The recovery of the bodies of two missing Kuki youths in Manipur’s Senapati district triggered protests and clashes with security forces on Sunday, while three other men from the same community were killed in a separate armed encounter in Noney district, police said.
The two youths, identified as T Chongloi, 21, and Paoginlal Hangsing, 20, had gone missing from Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi district on October 29. Their bodies were located in a banana farm in neighbouring Senapati district during a search operation, according to the report.
The recovery took place along the boundary between Kangpokpi and Senapati, an area of forested and hilly terrain east of National Highway 2. The bodies were found inside gunny bags, adding to anger among local Kuki organisations and residents who alleged that the youths had been abducted and killed.
“Naga militants”
The allegation was directed at suspected Naga armed groups, but the report did not state that the claim had been independently established. In a conflict marked by competing ethnic claims and repeated retaliatory attacks, the circumstances surrounding the deaths are likely to remain a major source of tension until the investigation establishes responsibility.
Search operation and confrontation
A joint operation involving the Manipur Police, CoBRA, CRPF, Assam Rifles and Rapid Action Force was conducted in the hills near the two districts. The teams searched areas along the SP Road, which connects Kangpokpi and Senapati, as they looked for the missing youths.
After the bodies were recovered, protesters gathered outside the office of the Superintendent of Police at the Kangpokpi district headquarters. The demonstration later turned into a confrontation with security personnel. Police used a baton charge and fired tear-gas shells to disperse the crowd. Agitators claimed that some demonstrators were injured, although the report did not provide a confirmed number or an official account of casualties among the protesters.
- October 29: Chongloi and Hangsing were reported missing from Taphou Kuki village.
- Sunday: Their bodies were found near the Kangpokpi-Senapati boundary.
- After the recovery: Protests outside the Kangpokpi SP’s office led to clashes with security personnel.
- Separately: Three Kuki men were killed in a gunfight in Noney district.
Three killed in Noney gunfight
In a separate incident on Saturday, three Kuki men died during a prolonged exchange of fire between rival armed groups at Kekru Naga village in Noney district. The firing continued for several hours in a forested hill area, police said.
| Incident | Location | Reported outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Missing youths recovered | Banana farm near the Kangpokpi-Senapati boundary | Two bodies found |
| Armed exchange | Kekru Naga village, Noney | Three Kuki men killed |
The three deceased were named as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip and Lamminsang Kipgen. They were residents of interior areas of Henglep and Thanlon in Churachandpur district. Kuki civil organisations identified them as village volunteers, according to the report.
The two incidents have deepened concerns over the fragile security situation in Manipur, where armed violence and ethnic mistrust have repeatedly disrupted civilian life. The latest Kuki-Naga tensions followed an alleged assault on a Naga man by members of the Kuki community in February. In May, the alleged killing of three Kuki pastors by Naga armed groups was followed by retaliatory abductions and killings, according to the report.
Wider conflict and peacebuilding challenge
The Kuki-Naga clashes are unfolding against the backdrop of the larger ethnic conflict between the Kuki community and the predominantly Hindu Meitei community. That conflict began in May 2023 over issues including economic benefits and job quotas. The violence has displaced more than 60,000 people, leaving communities divided and making movement through several districts particularly sensitive.
The latest deaths also came as public demonstrations were being held in Imphal and other parts of the state against a ceasefire arrangement involving Kuki armed groups and the Indian state. The protests reflect growing pressure from civil society groups over security policy, armed organisations and the continuing absence of a durable political settlement.
For families in the affected hill districts, the recovery of missing persons remains closely tied to questions of accountability and protection. The sequence of disappearance, search and public confrontation shows how quickly unresolved cases can become a wider law-and-order crisis. A credible investigation into both incidents, along with restraint by protesters and security personnel, will be essential to prevent further retaliatory violence.
