A man from the Meitei community, identified as Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh, was abducted and subsequently murdered by suspected Kuki militants in the Churachandpur district of Manipur, marking a troubling escalation in ongoing ethnic tensions in the region. Singh, a resident of Kakching Khunou, was taken from Tuibong around 6:30 PM and later shot near Natjang village, as reported by local sources and police.
The involvement of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), a militant group not bound by the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement—which was established between the central government, Manipur authorities, and several Kuki-Zo armed factions—has been suspected in this incident. Singh was married to Chingnu Haokip from Churachandpur and had adopted the tribal name Ginminthang. He recently returned from Nepal, where he was employed, arriving in Churachandpur on January 19 for a brief visit.
Reports indicate that Singh’s wife had obtained permission from local Kuki leaders and armed group representatives to allow him to stay for a few days, leading him to visit Tuibong. It was during this visit that he was reportedly kidnapped by armed individuals believed to be militants, who then transported him to the Natjang area where he was ultimately killed. His body was discovered later that evening.
Authorities are currently conducting investigations into the incident and have heightened security measures in the region to inhibit any further violence. Since violence broke out in Manipur in May 2023, interactions between the Meitei and Kuki communities have become strained, with a prevailing avoidance of entering each other’s territories. The protracted conflict has resulted in over 260 fatalities and has displaced many, deepening the rift along ethnic lines within the state.