Manipur's Churachandpur district grinds to halt over Kuki killing

Guwahati: An indefinite shutdown called by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) has brought life to a standstill across Manipur's Churachandpur district and other Kuki-dominated areas. The protest follows the killing of an elderly Kuki woman during a reported crossfire.

The victim, Hoikholhing Haokip, wife of the Langchingmanbi village chief, was allegedly killed during an exchange of fire between security forces and unidentified militants on Thursday, June 19.

The ITLF condemned the incident as a "grave injustice" and blamed the authorities for failing to protect civilians in conflict-hit areas. "This is not just a tragic loss for one family, but a glaring example of the state's breakdown in law and order," the organisation said in a statement.


Six Kuki civil society organisations have demanded a high-level investigation into the killing and called for swift justice for the victim's family.

Meanwhile, violence continued in other parts of the state on the same day. In Bishnupur district, a farmer identified as Ningthoujam Biren Singh was shot in the arm by an unknown assailant while working in his paddy field in Phubala Maning.

Singh, a resident of Phubala Awang Maning Leikai and a member of the Meitei community, was initially taken to the District Hospital in Bishnupur and later referred to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal. His condition is currently stable.

In response to these incidents, combined security forces launched a search operation in and around Langchingmanbi, Heichanglok, and western areas of Phubala village. During the operation, security personnel came under fire and retaliated.