Four Kuki-Zo civilians were killed in two separate attacks in Manipur on Sunday, while a six-year-old boy was injured, triggering fresh fears of escalating violence in the northeastern state.
The attacks took place in Tamenglong and Noney districts, adding to concerns over the safety of civilians living in sensitive areas. Police have begun investigations, but no group has claimed responsibility so far.
The first attack took place before dawn at Tollen village in Tamenglong district, where a family was targeted. The woman, identified in reports as Seineh Singsit, was killed, while her husband, Lhingzangai Singsit, and their six-year-old son suffered bullet injuries. The husband later died while being taken for treatment, while the child remained injured.
Security personnel from the Assam Rifles responded to the incident and helped evacuate the injured father and son towards Jiribam for medical treatment. Two other children from the family reportedly escaped unharmed.
A second attack was reported hours later at Longpi village, also in the region. According to Kuki-Zo organisations, a group transporting rice was ambushed. Two people, identified as Julie Gangte and Thangroel Gangte, were killed. Another woman travelling with them was reported missing.
Kuki-Zo organisations have alleged that members of Naga insurgent groups were behind the attacks. The allegations have not been independently established, and security agencies are investigating the incidents.
The violence occurred on September 13, a day observed by the Kuki community as Sahnit Ni or Black Day. The day is associated with the memory of victims of the Kuki-Naga conflict of the 1990s. The timing has added to the anxiety surrounding the attacks, although authorities have not established a link between the commemoration and the violence.
The fresh killings have raised concerns about a possible deterioration in the security situation in areas along the NH-37 corridor, an important road connecting Imphal with Jiribam. The road passes through areas where communities remain deeply divided following years of ethnic tension.
The Kuki-Zo Council on Monday condemned the killings and warned that continued activity by armed groups could push Manipur towards another full-scale conflict. The council urged the Centre to act decisively against militants and prevent armed groups from operating with impunity.
It also criticised political and civil society leaders for what it described as an unwillingness to pursue meaningful reconciliation and dialogue to address the continuing Naga-Kuki-Zo tensions.
The killings have also prompted demands for stronger security and an impartial investigation. Kuki organisations have called for those responsible to be identified and prosecuted, while community leaders have appealed for restraint to prevent the latest incidents from triggering further retaliation.
The attacks come against the backdrop of the wider Manipur ethnic conflict, which erupted in 2023 and has continued to leave communities divided despite efforts to restore normalcy.
The latest violence has particularly worried residents in remote settlements, where access to healthcare, transport and security can be difficult. The attack on a family in Tollen has also renewed concerns about the vulnerability of civilians who live away from major towns and security installations.
Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said violence would not be allowed to derail the state’s return to peace and normalcy. His comments came as community organisations called for immediate steps to prevent further attacks.
The incidents have also triggered protests. The Kuki Inpi Jiri, Tamenglong and Noney has announced a 24-hour economic blockade in response to the killings, adding another layer of tension to an already fragile situation.
The identities and motives of the attackers remain under investigation. Security agencies will now face the difficult task of establishing who carried out the attacks and whether the two incidents were connected.
The latest killings have come at a particularly sensitive time for Manipur. Communities that have lived through prolonged displacement, violence and loss remain deeply wary of fresh attacks.
The deaths of four civilians and the injury to a child have therefore raised concerns well beyond the two villages. They have renewed questions about civilian security, armed groups, ethnic tensions and the fragile peace process in Manipur.
The immediate priority for authorities will be to secure the affected areas, protect vulnerable communities and bring those responsible to justice. Equally important will be preventing the latest violence from triggering a wider cycle of retaliation.
With the Kuki-Zo Council warning of a possible slide towards renewed conflict, the latest attacks have once again underlined how fragile peace remains in Manipur.
