Imphal: Security forces in Manipur have recovered the severed head of a Naga man five days after he was allegedly killed by Kuki militants in Kangpokpi district, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
A joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Manipur Police recovered the remains of 52-year-old Ajinbou Ringkamai near the site of an October 10 attack in Makui village. The recovery came after Naga civil society organisations issued a 48-hour ultimatum on October 12, demanding that authorities locate and retrieve his missing head.
Ringkamai was among four Naga men killed in an ambush in the village. According to reports, the attackers allegedly decapitated him and fled with his head.
The recovered remains have been taken to the mortuary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal.
Earlier, the Joint Tribes Council (JTC-Manipur) had suspended the post-mortem examinations of Ringkamai and another victim, 48-year-old Dibambou Ringkangmai. Both bodies were brought to the mortuary on Monday.
The council has demanded the immediate arrest of three individuals named in its statement -Thangboi Kipgen, David Hangsing and Dr Sailen Haokip and linked the resumption of legal procedures to action on its demands. The allegations against the named individuals have not been independently verified.
The JTC also accused armed groups of operating with impunity under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and held both the state and Central governments responsible for what it described as a failure to rein in militant activities. The council warned of intensified agitation if its demands were not met.
The recovery marks a significant development in the search for Ringkamai’s missing remains, following mounting pressure from Naga civil society organisations for authorities to act.
However, questions remain over the progress of the murder investigation, the status of the suspended post-mortem examinations and whether any action will be taken against the individuals named by the JTC.
Authorities have yet to provide further details on the investigation or announce any arrests in connection with the allegations raised by the council.