UKHRUL: Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of three Meitei civilians at Sunurok Hills in Imphal district, near Khamenlok in Kangpokpi district, on October 19, alleging possible links between armed groups, political rivalries and factional disputes within the Kuki National Front (KNF-P).
In a statement issued on October 22, TIM welcomed the reported arrest of at least three cadres of the Kuki National Front (Nehlun), or KNF(N), following the killings. The organisation alleged that KNF(N) operates as a proxy of KNF-P, a signatory to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement under the United People’s Front (UPF), and called on investigators to establish the motive behind the attack, identify all those involved and examine any wider conspiracy.
TIM also urged the state government to address civilian killings across Manipur with equal urgency, calling on chief minister Y. Khemchand Singh to prioritise civilian protection, law enforcement and accountability.
The organisation further called for an investigation into the recovery of arms and ammunition, poppy and a Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) identity card, alleging that these could point to links between armed groups and the illegal poppy trade. It also sought scrutiny of the role of Kuki civil society organisations in relation to armed groups, citing the recent arrest of KSO-GHQ vice-president Jamkhomang Khongsai alongside United Kuki National Army (UKNA) chief Thangkhomang Haokip.
A significant part of the statement focused on alleged factional disputes within KNF-P and possible political rivalries ahead of the 2027 Manipur Legislative Assembly elections.
TIM alleged that Jangboi Kipgen, Home Secretary-cum-Finance Secretary and second-in-command of KNF-P, exercises control over the Unified Command of Kuki armed groups in Kangpokpi district. It further claimed that KNF(N), formed in 2012 by James Kipgen, operates under Jangboi Kipgen’s influence. The organisation called on investigators to establish whether KNF(N) remains under his control and whether the killings were connected to organisational or political rivalries.
The statement also alleged a dispute within KNF-P and the UPF involving president ST Thangboi Kipgen and Jangboi Kipgen over political support in Saitu Assembly Constituency (AC).
According to TIM, KNF-P has traditionally supported Nemcha Kipgen in Kangpokpi AC and Haokholet Kipgen in Saitu AC. However, Daniel Kipgen, brother of KNF-P defence secretary Helien Kipgen, has challenged the incumbent Haokholet Kipgen in Saitu.
TIM alleged that Jangboi Kipgen sought organisational support for Haokholet and expected ST Thangboi Kipgen to intervene in the contest. The organisation further claimed that after ST Thangboi Kipgen indicated that support would depend on who secured the BJP ticket, KNF(N) and other alleged proxies were used to intimidate Naga villages in Kangpokpi, including Makui, in an attempt to affect Nemcha Kipgen’s political position.
The organisation said investigators should determine whether these alleged disputes had any connection to the October 19 attack.
TIM also raised questions about the movements of Haokholet Kipgen and deputy chief minister Nemcha Kipgen in the days surrounding the killings. It stated that Haokholet, who had reportedly been staying at the chief minister’s Bungalow Guest House, returned to Kangpokpi on October 18, while Nemcha was expected to travel to Imphal on October 19 to work from the state Secretariat.
The organisation alleged that Jangboi Kipgen may have been involved in Haokholet’s return and the disruption of Nemcha’s planned visit, but said these developments required verification. It maintained that internal disputes among political figures and KNF-P leaders could not justify attacks on civilians.
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The statement also questioned whether the UPF and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), which condemned the killings on October 19 while denying involvement, would cooperate fully with the investigation. TIM said the subsequent police operations and arrests of KNF(N) cadres should not preclude further inquiry into the group’s alleged command structure, its relationship with KNF-P and the possible involvement of other individuals.
TIM called for investigators to examine whether the attack was intended to escalate communal tensions, weaken particular political figures, pressure KNF-P leadership or advance competing interests ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. It clarified that these were questions requiring investigation rather than established conclusions.
The organisation said the killings must not be used as leverage in armed-group rivalries, communal tensions or electoral calculations, and called for all those responsible for civilian killings and attacks on villages across Manipur to be identified and prosecuted.
It urged the state government to pursue every credible lead, establish accountability and take steps to prevent further violence.