Imphal: In renewed violence, suspected Kuki militants reportedly abducted and shot dead a 31-year-old Meitei civilian in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Wednesday night, officials reported on Thursday.
The district is regarded as the epicentre of the ongoing communal unrest in the state.
Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh (31), a resident of Kakching Khunou Uchan Makhong Leikai in Kakching district, was abducted and shot dead at Tuibong village in Churachandpur district around 10:30 pm on Wednesday.
He was the son of M. Tombi Singh and married to Chingnu Haokip (30), a Kuki-Zo woman and resident of Tuibong (Tuibuang) village. The couple had been staying together in Churachandpur since December 19, 2025.
Following reports of the killing, a road blockade protest has been launched at Kakching Khunou in Kakching district, which shares an interdistrict border with Churachandpur. So far, no underground group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Meanwhile, video footage has emerged showing the Meitei man on his knees with his hands folded. The video features a text overlay reading: “no peace, no popular government.” His plea was ended by the muzzle flash of an assault rifle as he was shot.
Since the ethnic violence began on May 3, 2023, a total of 261 individuals from the warring communities have lost their lives, despite the government deploying maximum security forces to maintain law and order in this volatile border state.