Imphal, Oct 16: A woman was killed and two other civilians went missing after suspected militants ambushed two motorcycles carrying four villagers in Manipur’s Kamjong district on Thursday evening.
The woman’s body was recovered late at night, while tensions escalated in the district amid reports of armed clashes and a road blockade by Naga women near the Indo-Myanmar border.
The ambush reportedly took place between 4 pm and 5 pm between Molnoi and Phaikoh, when the four civilians, travelling as two couples on two-wheelers, were heading to Phaikoh to purchase essential commodities.
The woman, identified as Hatneikim Haokip, wife of Jangkhongam Haokip, died in the attack. Her husband reportedly escaped with bullet injuries.
The other two travellers, D. Paokhothang Haokip and his wife, Boishi Haokip, both from Chassad village, remained missing, according to the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM).
Security forces and villagers launched search operations to trace the missing couple. The recovery of Hatneikim’s body late at night came amid heightened tensions in the area.
Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the attack in a statement issued on October 15, describing it as a grave criminal act.
She expressed condolences to the bereaved family and wished Jangkhongam Haokip a complete and speedy recovery.
Kipgen urged the district administration to maintain law and order, conduct a swift investigation and identify and apprehend those responsible. She also appealed to community leaders, young people and citizens across the region to remain calm, exercise restraint and reject rumours and provocations.
“Peace, mutual respect, and the safety of all people must remain our shared and highest commitment,” she said.
Tensions near Indo-Myanmar border
A separate confrontation was reported near Pillar 102 along the Indo-Myanmar border in Kamjong district, where Naga women reportedly blocked a road to prevent a security convoy from passing. The blockade continued until late Thursday night.
Reports of armed clashes in the surrounding areas further heightened tensions. Details regarding the parties involved, the circumstances of the clashes and any casualties were not immediately available.
The developments came amid heightened tensions in the district following the ambush and continued uncertainty over the whereabouts of the two missing civilians.
KZC demands impartial investigation
The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) condemned the ambush and demanded an immediate and impartial investigation into the killing.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the council alleged that NSCN-IM cadres were responsible for the attack. It claimed that the number of Kuki-Zo civilians killed in violence attributed to NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) had reached 30.
The KZC also questioned Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho’s reported demand for the removal of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen over allegations of complicity in the killing of Naga civilians.
The council argued that allegations concerning Dikho’s alleged links with NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) should also be investigated, maintaining that accountability must be impartial and consistent.
It further said that if Naga leaders were demanding the abrogation of Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with KNO/UPF, the ceasefire arrangement with NSCN-IM should also be reviewed for possible abrogation.
The KZC also argued that if the president of KNF (P) was to be arrested and treated as a terrorist, NSCN-IM’s leadership should likewise face appropriate legal action over its alleged role in the killing of Kuki civilians, including incidents dating back to the 1990s.
“No individual or organisation should be above the law,” the council said, calling for the law to be applied equally, irrespective of the community affected or the organisation involved.
The KZC’s allegations regarding the involvement of armed groups and claims concerning political figures have not been independently verified.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body of the Kuki community, also condemned the ambush and expressed concern over the fate of the two missing civilians.
According to its statement, four civilians travelling as two couples on two-wheelers came under attack between Molnoi and Phaikoh. Hatneikim Haokip died at the spot, while her husband escaped with bullet injuries.
The statement identified the missing travellers as D. Paokhothang Haokip and his wife, Boishi Haokip, of Chassad village. Their whereabouts remained unknown, the organisation said.