A 55-year-old farmer was shot dead in Manipur’s Tamenglong district on Tuesday after unidentified armed men allegedly opened fire on a group of cultivators working in a paddy field, officials said. The incident has further heightened tensions in the region, prompting authorities to strengthen security deployment along the Imphal-Tamenglong road.According to police, the incident took place around 11.30 am near Lansan village under the jurisdiction of Tamei Police Station. A group of farmers was reportedly working in a paddy field along the Imphal-Tamenglong road when armed miscreants opened fire at them.The deceased was identified as Haogin Louvum, a resident of Lansan Kuki village in Tamenglong district. Police said he belonged to the Kuki community. Following the incident, security forces rushed to the area and launched an investigation. The body was recovered and later shifted to Kangpokpi district for legal formalities and post-mortem examination.
Local residents have alleged that the attackers were armed cadres linked to the Zeliangrong United Front (Kamson) faction, a Naga militant outfit. However, police officials said no group has been officially identified so far and the identity of the attackers is yet to be confirmed. A case has been registered at the concerned police station and further investigation is underway. The killing comes at a time when tensions between Naga and Kuki communities remain high in parts of Manipur. Earlier in the day, 14 Kuki civilians who had been in the custody of Naga civil bodies since May 13 were released. They had reportedly been detained following twin ambush incidents in Kangpokpi and Noney districts that claimed four lives, including three church leaders and a Naga civilian.The latest incident follows another killing reported on Monday. Chunjanglung Panmei, a 57-year-old Naga civilian, was allegedly killed in an ambush by unidentified armed men at Pongringlong Part-I in Kangpokpi district. According to reports, Panmei was among a group of villagers who had gone to collect firewood when the attack took place.
Meanwhile, Kuki organisations strongly condemned Tuesday’s killing. The Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills alleged that Haogin Louvum was killed by cadres of the NSCN-IM Kamson group. The organisation also claimed that the victim’s body was not allowed to pass through Makui village while being transported for funeral rites.In a separate statement, the Kuki Inpi Manipur described the incident as a “cold-blooded murder” and alleged a serious failure of the state’s security system. The apex body of the Kuki community said the killing had raised fresh concerns about the safety and security of vulnerable Kuki-Zo villages in Tamenglong district.The organisation further questioned why residents of vulnerable villages continue to face threats despite the presence of security forces and prevailing tensions in the area. It urged the district administration and security agencies to explain the measures being taken to ensure the safety of local communities.
