5 days ago
Four Naga Men, Including Principal, Killed in Manipur Ambush
Four men from the Liangmai Naga community were killed in Manipur.
Their vehicle was attacked on a road between Naga villages in Kangpokpi district.
One other man was injured, and one report said another person was missing.
One of the people killed was a private-school principal.
Another was a village authority chairman.
Naga groups blamed suspected Kuki militant organizations, but the police had not confirmed who carried out the attack.
A Kuki-Zo Council representative denied involvement by any group known to them.
The government ordered security forces to search for the attackers and take action.
Shops closed in Senapati, and a wider Naga shutdown was announced.
Four Liangmai Naga men were killed and one was injured in an ambush in Kangpokpi district.
The attack occurred around 8:30 a.m. between Makui Ashang and Thanamba or Thabamba Naga villages.
The dead included school principal Tadsongbou Ringkangmai and village authority chairman Wisobou Charenamai.
The United Naga Council accused Kuki militant groups, but police had not identified the attackers and a Kuki-Zo representative denied known-group involvement.
Shops closed in Senapati, while the United Naga Council announced a 12-hour shutdown across Naga areas.
- Who
- Four Liangmai Naga men were killed, one was injured, and one person was reported missing by one source. Naga organizations accused suspected Kuki militant groups, while police had not named the attackers.
- What
- Armed assailants ambushed a vehicle, killing four people and injuring one.
- Where
- On the Imphal-Tamenglong road between Makui Ashang and Thanamba or Thabamba Naga villages in Kangpokpi district, Manipur.
- When
- The ambush occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday; a 12-hour shutdown was announced from 6 a.m. Friday.
- Why
- The motive was not established. The attack occurred amid continuing ethnic tensions and violence involving Naga, Kuki and Meitei communities.
Naga Organizations
Police, Government and Kuki-Zo Representatives
Who carried out the ambush
Naga Organizations
The United Naga Council accused the Kuki National Front (P), the Kuki National Front and the Kuki Revolutionary Army of involvement.
Police, Government and Kuki-Zo Representatives
Manipur Police had not officially identified the attackers, and a Kuki-Zo Council representative denied involvement by any group known to them.
Response to the killings
Naga Organizations
Naga organizations condemned the attack, closed businesses in Senapati and called for a wider shutdown across Naga areas.
Police, Government and Kuki-Zo Representatives
The government condemned the killings, ordered a search for the perpetrators and said action would be taken against people carrying illegal weapons, regardless of community.
Broader Naga-Kuki tensions
Naga Organizations
Naga organizations viewed the killings alongside earlier deaths of six Naga civilians in Kangpokpi and called for accountability.
Police, Government and Kuki-Zo Representatives
The Kuki-Zo Council chairman had apologized for the earlier killings and called for an impartial investigation into violence connected to the wider ethnic crisis.
Key facts
- Deaths
- Four Liangmai Naga community members were killed.
- Injured
- Gaikamang Ringkangmai was reported injured.
- Reported missing
- One source reported that another person was missing; another source did not mention a missing person.
- Victims identified
- The deceased were identified as Tadsongbou Ringkangmai, Mariakdibou or M Wijunamai, Anil Wijunamai and Wisobou Charenamai.
- Government response
- Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh ordered security forces to search for and take action against those responsible.
- Weapons policy
- The government said cadres under the Suspension of Operations arrangement carrying weapons outside designated camps would face action.
- Shutdowns
- Businesses closed in Senapati, and the United Naga Council announced a 12-hour shutdown in Naga areas.
- Wider violence
- Reports said ethnic violence in Manipur since May 2023 had killed at least 260 people and displaced more than 58,800.
Quotes
Government official statement
Official statement describing the state government's response to the killings
“The meeting discussed in detail today's unfortunate incident in Kangpokpi district, in which four innocent civilians were gunned down mercilessly. The government condemned the incident in the strongest terms”
NDTV
“The government condemned the incident in the strongest terms... the chief minister instructed the security officials to nab and initiate action against the perpetrators of the crime”
rediff.com
N Biren Singh
Former Manipur chief minister and BJP leader
“Naga civilians have been killed by suspected Kuki militants along the IT Road in Kangpokpi district today. How many more innocent lives must be lost before decisive action is taken?”
rediff.com
Sources
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