Five people have been killed in two separate incidents of ethnic violence in India's northeastern state of Manipur, police said, as fresh clashes have intensified tensions in the conflict-hit region.

Three men from the Kuki tribal community were killed in an exchange of gunfire involving unidentified armed groups in Noney district on Saturday, according to a police statement.

The bodies of two other Kuki men, who had gone missing earlier in the week, were recovered in Kangpokpi district on Sunday morning following a search operation by security personnel.

A prominent Kuki tribal organisation blamed Naga separatist groups for the killings, describing them as an unprovoked attack on the community in its homeland.

The latest violence comes amid widespread protests in the state capital, Imphal, and other areas. Hundreds of thousands of people reportedly took part in demonstrations demanding the termination of a ceasefire arrangement between Kuki armed groups and the Indian government.

Long-Standing Kuki-Naga Tensions

The Kuki and Naga communities have a long history of conflict over competing claims to ancestral territories in Manipur.

The latest round of fighting began after a Naga man was allegedly assaulted by members of the Kuki community in February this year.

In May, the killing of three Kuki pastors, allegedly by Naga armed groups, triggered a series of retaliatory abductions and killings by both sides.

The latest incidents have further aggravated tensions in the northeastern state, which has been struggling with multiple ethnic conflicts.

Wider Ethnic Conflict Continues

The Kuki community is also involved in a separate, deadly conflict with the predominantly Hindu Meitei community.

The broader conflict began in May 2023 following tensions over economic benefits and government job quotas.

More than 300 people have been killed in the violence, while over 60,000 people have been displaced from their homes. Many of them continue to live in temporary shelters.

The latest killings have raised fresh concerns over security and the prospects for restoring lasting peace in Manipur.

Authorities are facing growing pressure to prevent further violence and address the longstanding ethnic tensions in the region.