Imphal: The bodies of three Kuki village volunteers killed in a militant ambush reached Manipur’s Churachandpur on Sunday night.
The deceased were identified as Lenminsang Kipgen, Thanglensang Singson and Thangkhosei Haokip. They were reportedly killed on October 31 in an attack by Kacha-Naga militants.
According to local sources, the three were performing security duties along the Noney-Tamenglong border when armed cadres of the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K ambushed them.
A security convoy transported the bodies from the site of the incident along the Tongjei Maril hill road. Rough terrain and security arrangements delayed the journey, and the convoy reached the Kaprang reception point at around 8 pm.
Villagers and representatives of Kuki civil society organisations gathered at Kaprang to receive the bodies and paid floral tributes.
The bodies were later taken to the Churachandpur District Hospital mortuary, where they will remain pending post-mortem examinations and burial arrangements.
Family members have reportedly reached the district to coordinate with local leaders.
According to data from the Kuki Human Rights Council, 37 Kuki civilians, including clergy and village volunteers, have been killed by Kacha-Naga militants in 2026.
Civil society leaders have criticised the state’s security operations, alleging that security forces selectively target Kuki volunteers during combing operations while failing to act against insurgent groups operating under existing ceasefire arrangements.
Community organisations have petitioned the Government of India to reimpose President’s Rule, end ceasefire agreements with groups they consider hostile, and secure the release of detained village volunteers.