A 44-year-old Kuki civilian lost his life on Tuesday after being shot by unidentified gunmen in Manipur's Kangpokpi district while collecting wild bamboo shoots. The victim, identified as Paolen Khongsai from P. Molding village, was targeted in a remote forested area, triggering widespread concern and protests across the region over ongoing security challenges.
Details of the Attack and Police Response
According to reports, Paolen Khongsai was traveling alongside another individual named Laldenga toward a forested zone situated between P. Molding and Molhoi villages when the two came under sudden gunfire at approximately 8 am. Khongsai sustained fatal gunshot wounds and died at the scene, whereas Laldenga managed to escape the ambush completely unharmed.
The incident occurred in a wooded area located roughly 13 km away from the Leimakhong Police Station. Local law enforcement authorities have registered an official case regarding the homicide. Plans were made to transport Khongsai's body to Kangpokpi for a post-mortem examination as part of the ongoing legal and investigative procedures.
Protest Shutdown and CoTU Demands
In the wake of the killing, the Committee on Tribal Unity declared a 24-hour total shutdown across the Kangpokpi district starting Tuesday midnight. The protest was organized to express collective grief, demand accountability and justice, secure protection for the Kuki-Zo community, and urge authorities to take concrete actions to alleviate their prolonged hardships.
Through a formal statement, the organization voiced deep concern over the indiscriminate arrest of Kuki-Zo individuals linked to the October 19 incident in the Nongshum-Sunurok area, where three Meitei civilians were killed. The group insisted that any alleged involvement of arrested persons must be firmly established through an impartial, fair investigation rather than arbitrary actions.
Parallel Strikes Paralyze the Imphal Valley
Concurrently, a separate 48-hour strike called by the Native People Committee Manipur protesting the killing of three Meitei civilians brought normal life to a standstill across five districts in the Imphal Valley on Tuesday. Educational institutions, retail shops, and commercial establishments remained shut down throughout numerous areas within Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, and Kakching districts.
