Imphal, June 20 -- A woman from the Kuki community was killed when a stray bullet hit her during an exchange of fire between security forces and suspected Kuki militants in Chingphei area of Churachandpur district in Manipur on Thursday, officials said. The incident took place shortly after a farmer sustained bullet injuries in firing by suspected Kuki militants in Bishnupur district. Around 3.30pm, an encounter broke out between security forces and Kuki militants, officials said. During the exchange of fire, the woman, identified as Hoikholhing Haokip, was struck by a stray bullet and was rushed to the Churachandpur District Hospital where she succumbed to injuries. While there was no official confirmation on the circumstances that led to the woman's death, Kuki civil society organisations (CSOs) said that the deceased was the wife of the village chief of Lanchingmanbi in Churachandpur district. Minutes earlier, around eight to nine rounds were fired towards a paddy field where the 60-year-old Meitei farmer, identified as Ningthoujam Biren, was working and sustained a bullet injury on his left arm. "The shots were fired by suspected Kuki militants," a person familiar with the matter alleged. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, six Kuki civil society organisations (CSOs) unanimously endorsed the call for an indefinite shutdown in protest against the alleged "targeted killing" of Hoikholhing Haokip....