Kuki man found dead a day after abduction in Manipur
GUWAHATI: A 71-year-old Kuki man was found dead in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Sunday, October 4, 2026, a day after he was allegedly abducted at gunpoint from his village, residents and officials said.
Abduction and discovery
Residents of Khunkho Kuki village, which is located near an Army base in Kangpokpi, said a group of armed men stormed the settlement on Saturday, October 3. The attackers allegedly set fire to the home of the victim, identified as Hemjang Haokip, before taking him away at gunpoint.
Haokip’s body was recovered in a nearby forested area roughly 24 hours later, according to people in the village. Officials said security forces had deployed sniffer dogs to search for him in the hours following his abduction.
Local reactions and allegations
The Khunkho Kuki Village Authority condemned the abduction and killing, calling the act heinous and urging the Manipur government to identify and punish those responsible. Community members expressed shock over the attack, saying it had heightened fear in a region already unsettled by months of ethnic tension.
Some locals suspected that the assailants were members of a Naga extremist group. Authorities did not immediately offer details in the public domain about potential suspects or a motive as the investigation proceeded.
Escalating tensions in Manipur
The killing comes amid a prolonged ethnic conflict in Manipur that first erupted in May 2023, initially pitting the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities against each other. The unrest has periodically shut down normal life in the State and triggered extensive security operations.
In recent months, tensions have also grown between Kuki and Naga groups. The most recent instance of armed violence cited by residents occurred on September 26, when three Naga civilians were shot dead. The cumulative violence across the State has left more than 300 people dead since the conflict began, highlighting the fragile security situation and the continued risk of targeted attacks.
Missing persons and government response
Addressing the Manipur Assembly in September, State Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas said that 49 people remain missing since the conflict broke out in May 2023. The State government announced a few days ago that it would provide an ex gratia of ₹10 lakh each to the next of kin of those 49 missing persons, acknowledging the prolonged trauma faced by affected families.
Search efforts and next steps
Following Saturday’s abduction in Khunkho Kuki village, security forces launched a search using sniffer dogs, officials said. The discovery of Haokip’s body the following day has now shifted the focus to identifying the perpetrators and establishing the sequence of events leading to his death.
Local leaders have appealed for heightened protection in villages along sensitive fault lines and for swift, credible investigations into recent attacks. They have also pressed for stronger measures to prevent retaliatory violence and to rebuild confidence among communities living in proximity to areas of frequent clashes.
Significance
Haokip’s killing underscores the continuing volatility in Manipur, where overlapping grievances and entrenched mistrust have repeatedly derailed fragile calm. With hundreds dead, dozens still missing, and fresh incidents of violence deepening communal anxieties, residents and civil society groups are urging authorities to deliver accountability and strengthen security while supporting reconciliation efforts across the State.
