A shutdown was observed across Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Wednesday following the arrival of the body of a villager who was killed in Tamenglong district, triggering widespread grief and condemnation from several Kuki civil society organisations.
The mortal remains of Haokhogin Lhouvum, a resident of Lasan village in Tamenglong district, were brought to Kangpokpi District Hospital at around 1:45 am under tight security arrangements.
According to local sources, the team tasked with recovering the body faced difficulties during the journey and was forced to take an alternative route before reaching Kangpokpi.
Lhouvum was reportedly killed on June 9 while working in a paddy field along with other villagers. Several Kuki organisations alleged that armed militants were behind the attack, although security agencies have not officially confirmed the identity of those responsible.
Survivors of the incident claimed that a group of armed men opened fire on villagers while they were engaged in agricultural work. Lhouvum sustained fatal injuries in the attack, while the others managed to flee to safety.
Villagers said certain items believed to be connected to the incident were recovered from the area and later handed over to personnel of Tamei Police Station during the body recovery operation.
Hundreds of people gathered at Kangpokpi District Hospital to receive the body. Representatives of the Kuki Inpi, Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and several other community organisations were present to pay their respects.
Following the incident, the Committee on Tribal Unity announced a district-wide shutdown across Kangpokpi until the burial of the deceased. Educational institutions, commercial establishments and government offices remained closed during the shutdown, although essential services and vehicular movement were exempted.
At the time of filing this report, the funeral arrangements had not been finalised and the body remained at the mortuary of Kangpokpi District Hospital.
Several Kuki organisations strongly condemned the killing and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. They also called on the authorities to identify and take strict action against those responsible.
The incident has once again heightened concerns over security and the safety of civilians in parts of Manipur’s hill districts, where sporadic violence and tensions continue to pose challenges despite ongoing efforts to restore peace and normalcy.
