Educational institutions, shops and other commercial establishments remained closed across the five districts of the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

Unidentified gunmen killed a Kuki villager in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Tuesday (October 20, 2026), a day after the killing of three Meitei men triggered outrage across Imphal Valley.

The Committee on Tribal Unity, a Kuki organisation, announced a 24-hour “total shutdown” in Kangpokpi from Tuesday (October 20, 2026) midnight to express collective anguish and demand justice, accountability, protection for the Kuki-Zo people, and concrete action to address their suffering.

Locals said Paolenmung Thangneo, a 44-year-old resident of P. Muolding village, had ventured into a forest with another villager, Laldenga, to collect bamboo shoots when they came under attack at around 7 a.m. Mr. Thangneo succumbed to his injuries, while Mr. Laldenga escaped unhurt.

The P. Muolding Village Authority blamed the attack on the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) and the Zeliangrong United Front (Kamsong). No group had so far claimed responsibility.

Meanwhile, educational institutions, shops and other commercial establishments remained closed across the five districts of the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley during the 48-hour strike called by the Native People Committee Manipur from Monday midnight to protest the killing of three Meitei civilians.

The three men were killed while collecting firewood in a jungle along the border between Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts.

Protestors blocked roads in some places and burned effigies of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas. They held the government responsible for the deteriorating law-and-order situation and demanded the resignation of the three leaders.

CM meets INDIA bloc leaders

The Chief Minister met leaders of the INDIA bloc, led by former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, to review the State’s overall security situation.

The Opposition leaders expressed deep concern over the killing of civilians, urging him to convene an all-party meeting in view of the prevailing situation. Mr. Singh assured them that he would look into the matter. 

“We also had a constructive discussion on maintaining peace and collective efforts for the restoration of normalcy in the State,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Ibobi Singh, a former Chief Minister and Congress veteran, slammed Manipur’s BJP-led government over the continuing violence and questioned its moral authority to remain in office. “It is deplorable that the Centre has chosen to remain a silent spectator despite its ability to rein in the armed groups,” he told journalists.

The latest spate of violence began on October 9 with the killing of a Kuki woman near the India-Myanmar border in Kamjong district. Eight more people were killed over the next 24 hours in Kamjong, Ukhrul and Kangpokpi districts, though unofficial accounts put the toll at 10.

Published – October 20, 2026 08:29 pm IST