Tensions in Manipur escalated on Monday after three civilians were killed and three others injured in an ambush by suspected militants. The attack occurred around 7 a.m. at Khongbal Sunurok Uyok in the Kangpokpi district, near the border with the Imphal East district, while a group of 16 residents were gathering firewood in the hills. Officials reported that three additional individuals remain missing following the incident.
The deceased were identified by authorities as 35-year-old Arubam Ronil, 51-year-old Lairenlakpam Inaobi, and 32-year-old Kshetrimayum Sushil. While Ronil and Inaobi died at the scene, Sushil succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a private hospital in Imphal. The wounded survivors, identified as N. Suraj, 19, Meisnam Somendro, 53, and K. Bosan, 45, are currently receiving medical treatment. One survivor described the ordeal, stating that the group was targeted by sudden gunfire while they were in the process of loading firewood.
The aftermath of the attack triggered immediate civil unrest in the capital, Imphal. In a desperate act of protest against the state’s ongoing cycle of violence, irate locals transported two of the victims' bodies to the city and placed them in front of the residence of Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh in the Babupara area. The demonstration prompted a security response, with police deploying tear gas shells to disperse the gathered crowds. The bodies were eventually moved to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences for necessary procedures.
Following the demonstration, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh visited the injured survivors at the hospital, though he provided no public comments regarding the incident. The unrest also manifested in widespread disruption across Imphal, with citizens organizing road blockades at Khurai Lamlong and staging demonstrations at the Ema Keithel market. Markets and commercial establishments across the city remained shuttered as public anger intensified.
This latest surge in violence occurs against a backdrop of instability that has gripped Manipur since May 2023. Over the past weekend, separate incidents of violence were reported in other regions. In the Kamjong district, suspected militants reportedly torched at least 15 houses belonging to the Kuki community in Chassad village late Saturday night. The arson forced many civilians to flee toward forest areas and a nearby Army camp. Additionally, a Kuki civilian was reported killed and four others were injured during an attack in the same village on Sunday.
Local leadership has expressed grave concern over the situation. Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the arson in Chassad, labelling it an intolerable crime and urging security forces to maintain constant vigilance to protect civilians. In response to the unrest, police confirmed that a joint security operation involving the Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force, and the Kamjong Police has been launched to restore order.
The state has seen recurring instances of conflict involving various armed groups. In a separate incident on Saturday night at the Kamjong district headquarters, three Tangkhul Naga civilians sustained injuries after being targeted by rival armed groups. As authorities work to locate the missing persons and stabilize the region, the combination of these attacks and the subsequent public outcry underscores the fragile security environment that has persisted in the state for over a year.
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