New Delhi: Two Naga civilians were killed and two others injured after unidentified gunmen opened fire at Kalenjang in Manipur’s Senapati district on Saturday (September 26). The victims have been identified as Rocky Mao from Chowainamei village and Kumar Poumai from Laii Shirafii village. The injured were identified as Adani Manio, 33, and Ashiho Sani, 49, who are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Senapati.The shooting took place at around 2.30 pm, according to reports. The bodies of the two deceased persons were taken to Senapati District Hospital for post-mortem examinations.The attackers remain unidentified while an investigation by police is underway. The Manipur Chief Minister’s Office has condemned the killings and described those responsible as unidentified militants, reports NDTV.The attack came two days after four Tangkhul Naga civilians were killed in a separate shooting at Pilong in neighbouring Kamjong district.It also occurred just as the United Naga Council suspended a four-month economic blockade of Manipur’s national highway numbers 2 and 37, following tripartite talks involving Naga representatives, the Union government and the Manipur government.The blockade was suspended at 6 pm on September 26 following the first tripartite meeting involving the Union government, Manipur government and UNC, reports the Sangai Express.UNC agreed to take back the bodies of the six Naga men who were abducted and killed in May and whose bodies had remained at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal East since June 10.The Union government has also reportedly assured the UNC that action would be taken against the Kuki National Front – President (KNF(P)) and its chairman Thangboi Kipgen if evidence establishes their involvement in the six men’s abduction and killing.Also read: Killing of Three Tribal Church Leaders Reopens Manipur’s WoundsLocal reports have cited allegations by Naga sources that Kuki armed groups were responsible for the Kalenjang shooting. However, authorities have not publicly established the identity or affiliation of the attackers so far.“We strongly condemn the killings of innocent civilians from Naga, Kuki and Meitei communities,” Manipur Congress president and Leader of the Opposition of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Okram Ibobi Singh said as per a report in the Times of India. It said the former chief minister said the BJP was a “silent spectator” to civilian killings.The Naga-Kuki relationship has deteriorated sharply since the beginning of 2026. Apart from hostage taking and blockades, both sides have blamed each other for the 40 killings of members of both communities since February. Meanwhile, the Kuki-Meitei conflict remains on the boil in parts of the state over three years later. The toll in the Kuki-Meitei conflict has risen to 300.Recently, eight MLAs belonging to Naga tribes in Manipur asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to “immediately abrogate” Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with Kuki-Zo armed groups in the state.SOOs are tripartite agreements signed between militant groups, the Union government and the Manipur state government that involve laying down of arms as a peaceful settlement of political issues continues. According to the UNC, cited by local news in Manipur, the SoO agreement that expired on September 4 has not been extended so far.In their letter to Shah, which circulated online without a date or the signature of one of the MLAs, the Naga MLAs sought action against Manipur Deputy Chief Minister, Nimchen Kipgen. They allege that her husband, Thangboi Kipgen, controls cadres who are responsible for recent killings of Nagas in the state and attacks on Naga villages.