A fatal shooting incident near the international boundary in Manipur resulted in the loss of four Tangkhul Naga villagers on Thursday evening. The tragedy occurred in the remote settlement of Pilong Naga village, located within Kamjong district, sparking sharp condemnation from tribal groups across the frontier belt.
Search Operation Uncovers Bullet-Riddled Bodies Near the Border
The settlement where the violence unfolded is situated roughly 35 km away from the administrative headquarters of Kamjong. According to witness statements from residents, five villagers found themselves trapped when heavily armed attackers staged a sudden ambush. While four individuals were struck down, a fifth villager managed to slip away under fire and alerted community members and law enforcement personnel.
Following an extensive nighttime search conducted jointly by local volunteers and police teams through rugged terrain, the victims were discovered around 1:30 am. The bodies, discovered at an isolated site nearly 34 km from the district headquarters near the Myanmar frontier, bore severe gunshot wounds. Authorities identified the deceased as Betterson Jajo, Ningthem Kashak, Phami Jajo, and Vareishim Jajo, confirming that a father and his son were among the dead. The remains were later transported to the district headquarters facility so medical personnel could conduct post-mortem examinations.
Allegations Against Cross-Border Insurgent Outfits and Public Outcry
Police indicated that the attackers carried sophisticated firearms and were suspected cadres belonging to the Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B). While several Naga civil society organizations have similarly pointed to the same militant faction, the allegation has not undergone independent verification.
In response to the killings, the Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long expressed severe outrage over the incident, asserting that authorities bear total responsibility for failing to prevent cross-border violence. The prominent community body instituted an emergency shutdown lasting 24 hours across its regional jurisdiction, beginning at 7 am on Friday. In an official notification regarding the action, TNL secretary Thanreingam Muivah stated that the shutdown serves as an immediate protest against the fatal assault on the four civilians.
