Imphal: Human skeletal remains were recovered from a gorge within the Singda Dam complex under Kangchup police station in Manipur’s Imphal West district on Friday.
Acting on initial information, a team of Imphal West district police, along with State Forensic Science experts, reached the site and collected skeletal remains and fragmented bones for examination. A suo motu case has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
Police said efforts are under way to establish the identity of the deceased and ascertain the circumstances surrounding the recovery.
The discovery comes against the backdrop of prolonged ethnic violence in Manipur, in which more than 260 people have been killed. As of early 2026, at least 32 persons remain missing, with several families still awaiting closure. In some cases, families have performed symbolic last rites, locally known as Lanna Thouram, as bodies remain untraced.
The Singda Dam area had emerged as a sensitive zone during the peak of the conflict. Located along the fringes of the Imphal valley, it lies between Kuki-inhabited hill regions and the Meitei-majority valley, placing it within a buffer zone of hostilities.
The reservoir, a key source of potable water for Imphal city, witnessed multiple incidents of violence, including reported shootouts in July 2023, with the unrest also disrupting water supply and damaging the dam’s infrastructure.
Officials said further investigation is in progress.