Abduction-killing by Kuki militants sparks fresh tension in Manipur

Guwahati: Fresh tension erupted in Manipur after police recovered the body of a 38-year-old man, a day after he and his wife were kidnapped on Wednesday by suspected United Kuki National Army (UKNA) militants in Manipur's Churachandpur district. A police official said a video clip of the victim pleading for his life with folded hands before being shot at close range by the armed assailants has gone viral on social media.

The victim has been identified as Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh. He was married to Chingnu Haokip. After marriage, Singh adopted a tribal name, Ginminthang. Singh was working in Nepal and has recently returned to Manipur.

A senior police official said the couple was abducted on Wednesday by suspected UKNA militants and taken towards Natjang village under Henglep police station in Churachandpur district.


The police official said, "His wife has sought permission from the Kuki organisations to allow her husband to stay in Churachandpur district, which is a KuKi-Zo dominated area". Singh's body has been kept at the Churachandpur district morgue. Police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation into the incident.

Ever since violence broke out, Kuki and Meitei have not visited each other's areas. Kuki reside in the hills while Meiteis stay in the valley.

On January 16, the special forces of the Army along with Assam Rifles and other security forces launched a counter insurgency operation in Manipur's Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. Defence sources said, "There was credible info that UKNA insurgents were moving in the area. UKNA is a group outside the Suspension of Operation (SoO)".

Intelligence sources said UKNA has 450 cadres armed with 300 sophisticated weapons, so they are bigger than any individual SoO group. UKNA maintains camps both within Manipur and in Myanmar.