Three civilians were killed and several houses damaged in an armed attack on a village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district in the early hours of Friday, raising fresh concerns over security in the area.According to reports, the incident took place around 4 am in Loibol village, where heavy firing was reported during the attack. The deceased have been identified as Letkhongam Haokip, Tinmary Haokip and Jangminlal Haokip. Local sources said all three were residents of the village.Reports from the area indicated that several houses were also set on fire during the incident, forcing villagers to flee to safer locations. The extent of the damage is yet to be officially assessed.The police said the assailants allegedly entered residential houses and opened fire on villagers while they were asleep. The three residents succumbed to bullet injuries sustained in the attack. Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the killing of the three civilians and directed security agencies to immediately arrest those responsible.In a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Singh described the attack as a “heinous and cowardly act” and said the deliberate targeting of unarmed civilians was completely unacceptable.“The government will not spare those responsible for this barbaric act,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the state police and central security agencies had been instructed to launch immediate operations to identify and arrest the perpetrators.The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of Kuki tribes in the state, also denounced the attack and demanded an investigation to arrest the perpetrators.Meanwhile, CRPF Director General GP Singh, who is currently on an operational tour of Manipur, met Governor Ajay Bhalla, the Chief Minister and newly appointed DGP Mukesh Singh.During his meeting with the Governor, discussions focused on enhancing operational preparedness, strategic planning and the CRPF’s comprehensive roadmap to eliminate insurgency and restore lasting peace in Manipur.In his meeting with the Chief Minister, GP Singh discussed security deployment and strategic operations. During his interaction with the DGP, the two officials reviewed the prevailing security situation in the state and outlined measures for security forces to work in coordination to maintain peace and normalcy.