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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 22: While welcoming the swift action taken by the Government following the killing of three Meitei civilians at Sunurok Hills, Imphal East district (near Khamenlok, Kang-pokpi district) on October 19, 2026, the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) has called for a thorough investigation of every credible lead, including the alleged KNF(P)- KNF(N) relationship, factional disputes and possible political motives, to establish the truth and hold all those responsible accountable under the law.
At least three active cadres of Kuki National Front (Nehlun)—KNF(N), a proxy of the SoO signatory Kuki National Front (KNF-P) under the United People’s Front (UPF)—have been arrested, two of whom have confessed.
The recovery of substantial arms and ammunition, poppy, and a Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) identity card warrants investigation into possible links between armed terrorists, the illegal poppy trade and Kuki armed groups—a pattern many term “Kuki narco-terrorism”, TIM asserted in a statement.
The roles of the KSO and other Kuki civil society organisations that function as proxies for SoO militant groups must also be examined, it alleged.
Notably, Jamkhomang Khongsai, a vice-president of KSO-GHQ, was recently arrested alongside United Kuki National Army (UKNA) chief Thangkho-mang Haokip, it said.
The Sunurok Hills massacre raises specific ques- tions about KNF(P) factional disputes and competing political interests ahead of the 2027 Manipur Legislative Assembly election, TIM said.
Jangboi Kipgen, Home Secretary-cum-Finance Secretary and second-in- command of KNF(P) after president ST Thangboi Kip-gen, also controls the Unified Command of Kuki armed groups (SoO and non-SoO) in Kangpokpi district.
KNF-N is alleged to function as his proxy, formed in 2012 by James Kipgen with his support to contain the rising influence of ST Thangboi Kipgen after Nemcha Kipgen’s elec- tion as Kangpokpi MLA.
All KNF-N cadres reportedly operate under Jangboi Kipgen’s cover. Investigators must determine whether KNF-N remains under his control and whether the attack was linked to organisational or political rivalries, TIM said.
TIM said that it received information of a dispute within KNF(P)/UPF between president ST Thangboi Kipgen and Home Secretary Jangboi Kipgen.
By established practice, KNF-P supports Nemcha Kipgen as MLA from Kang-pokpi AC and Haokholet Kipgen (Jangboi’s uncle) as MLA from Saitu AC, alleged TIM.
Defence Secretary Helien Kipgen’s brother Daniel Kipgen has now challenged the incumbent Haokholet Kipgen in Saitu AC.
Jangboi Kipgen demanded unconditional support for Haokholet, mirroring the support extended to Nemcha in Kangpokpi, and expected ST Thangboi Kipgen to restrain Daniel through Helien.
When ST Thangboi stated that the organisation would support whoever secured the BJP ticket, Jangboi is alleged to have used KNF-N and other proxies to terrorise Naga villages in Kangpokpi AC (including Makui) in order to deny Nemcha Naga votes and obstruct her by other means.
Investigators must establish whether this rivalry was connected to the attack, it said.
Despite being Deputy Chief Minister, Nemcha Kipgen has so far operated from Kangpokpi and taken her oath virtually. Haokholet Kipgen has been in Imphal for months.
The return of Independent MLA Haokholet Kipgen and KPA MLA Kimneo to Imphal became possible only after Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh’s visit to Kangpokpi, facilitated by ST Thangboi Kipgen and Jangboi Kipgen.
Haokholet Kipgen, who had been staying at the CM Bungalow Guest House, returned to Kangpokpi on October 18.
Nemcha Kipgen was expected to travel from Kangpokpi to Imphal on October 19 to function from the Secretariat. Jangboi Kipgen, reportedly unhappy with ST Thangboi Kipgen, is alleged to be linked to Haokholet’s recall and the disruption of Nemcha’s visit—consistent with KNF-N operating as his proxy.
Internal KNF(P) rivalries among Thangboi Kipgen, Jangboi Kipgen, Nemcha Kipgen, Haokholet Kipgen, Helien Kipgen and Daniel Kipgen cannot justify attacks on Meitei civilians.
The attack is also alleged to divert attention from Kuki atrocities against Nagas on the IT Road amid mounting pressure on Kangpokpi, TIM said.
On October 19, 2026, the UPF and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) condemned the killings while denying involvement.
Subsequent Manipur Police operations, understood to have followed clearance from these SoO signatories, led to the arrest of KNF-N cadres, TIM remarked.
It asked whether this sequence will again afford impunity to KNF-N supremo Jangboi Kipgen, including through lobbying by MLA Haokholet Kipgen.
Denial and clearance cannot preclude a full inquiry into command structures, motives, and the alleged operational relationship between Jangboi Kipgen and KNF-N. The three victims of the Sunurok Hills massacre must not become pawns in rivalries among armed groups, communal violence or electoral calculations, it added.