Two Kuki villagers were killed and two others were injured on Thursday in a fresh attack by militants on a village in Manipur’s Kamjung district, police said. The incident comes a day after six mutilated bodies of Naga hostages captured by Kuki militants last month were found by security forces.
“On 06/11/2026, at approximately 04:30 am, a group of unidentified armed miscreants carrying sophisticated firearms entered Koltoh village. [a Kuki settlement] It opened fire indiscriminately on the villagers… As a result, two people were killed, a number of villagers were injured, and seven houses were burned, causing severe damage to property.”
Police identified the two dead as Litminlone Hawkibub (35 years old) and Luminthang Hawkibub (23 years old), both of whom were community leaders in the area. The injured were identified as Jangkumang (28 years old) and Kaminlal (27 years old).
The Kuki Baptist Convention condemned the killings and urged the authorities to take “decisive and comprehensive measures” to ensure the protection of civilians.
The Eastern Kuki Chiefs Association, a body of Kuki chiefs, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “heinous and barbaric.”
The association accused the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-NSCN (Eastern Wing), a faction of the Naga armed group, and the Shani National Army Military Council, of being responsible for the attack. The statement claimed that Litmunlun Hockip was the archdeacon of Koltoh Church while Lunminthang Hockip was the youth president of Koltoh Church.
The association called on the concerned authorities and security services to immediately investigate and take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of villages at risk in the region.
Meanwhile, family members and relatives of the six missing Naga civilians on Thursday identified all the mutilated bodies deposited at the morgue of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences.
The six Naga individuals have been identified as Manu Thiumai, Dilip Thiumai, Kenpipo, Venronjoy Thiumai, Kaliwangpo Abumai and Ch Fenrilong, who have been untraceable since May 13.
An eyewitness, who did not want to reveal his name, told HT that while Dilip’s body was found intact, Manu’s body was found mutilated. The eyewitness said: “But the rest were badly disfigured, and we identified them through their clothes and shoes.”
The 24-hour lockdown imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC), an apex Naga body, to mourn the six suspected Naga hostages, has paralyzed many Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur, especially in Senapati district. The closure will be in effect from 6 a.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Friday.
In another incident, unidentified gunmen attacked Thengvai Kuki village in Saikul district of Kangbukpi on Wednesday evening; But officials confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Meanwhile, an angry mob vandalized the office of the Naga People’s Front, a Naga political party, at Liangmai Tavu in Senapati district of Manipur on Wednesday evening.
The six civilians, whose bodies were recovered on Wednesday, were among 48 civilians from the Kuki and Naga communities who were detained by people from both groups on May 13. Two days later, 14 people from each community were released. But 14 Kuki civilians and six Naga civilians remained captive.
Following the double ambush on May 13, both communities took civilians hostage. The first ambush took place in Sahipong village, under New Kithelmanbi police station in Kangbukpi district, killing three civilians. The second ambush took place in the border area of Gogangtik and Nongsay-2 villages, under Khophum police station in Noni district, resulting in the death of a civilian.
The demonstrators blamed the government for failing to ensure the safety of civilians who were allegedly held hostage by armed groups.
