Fresh unrest flared across Manipur's Kangpokpi district following the recovery of the bodies of two missing youths from the neighboring Senapati district. The discovery triggered intense demonstrations on Sunday night, quickly spiraling into confrontations between agitated crowds and security personnel. Demonstrators allegedly pelted stones at law enforcement units, forcing security personnel to fire tear gas shells and execute a baton-charge to disperse the gathering. During the melee, one demonstrator suffered a head injury after being struck by a tear gas canister; medical officials confirmed that the injured individual remains in stable condition.
Barricades and Fires Disrupt Regional Connectivity
Agitated locals intensified their protests by setting vehicle tyres ablaze and blockading critical road networks using tree trunks and heavy boulders. The roadblocks severely hampered vehicular mobility across multiple transit corridors in the district. Law enforcement personnel intervened to clear several blocked stretches, gradually restoring vehicular passage under strict surveillance. Security deployments have been augmented at vulnerable junctions to prevent further outbreaks of mob violence and ensure that civic movement remains secure.
Victims Discovered in Sacks at Banana Plantation
The violence stems from the abduction and killing of two local youths, identified as 21-year-old T Chongloi and 20-year-old Paoginlal Hangsing. Both individuals had disappeared from Taphou Kuki village on October 29. Following days of uncertainty, an intensive search operation launched by security agencies culminated on Sunday morning when search teams found their bodies packed inside gunny bags at a banana farm located in the hilly terrain of Senapati district. The grim nature of the discovery immediately provoked deep outrage among local communities.
Leaders Demand Justice as Naga Body Calls for Independent Probe
Reacting to the murders, Deputy Chief Ministers Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho condemned the incident and insisted on strict accountability. Kipgen remarked that the initial search for the pair had been fueled by hopes of their safe return, which ultimately culminated in grief. She pressed for an exhaustive inquiry and the swift prosecution of those responsible. Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho similarly denounced the act, maintaining that no grievance or disagreement could validate the taking of human life. Concurrently, the Naga Peoples' Organisation (NPO) raised serious questions regarding the circumstances under which the bodies were found, demanding an impartial and independent investigation into the entire matter.
Tribal Body Demands Resignation and Police Jurisdiction Shift
The Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) adopted a rigid stance over the killings, demanding the immediate resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho. The group also insisted that administrative policing of Taphou Kuki village be transferred from the jurisdiction of the Senapati Superintendent of Police to that of the Kangpokpi Superintendent of Police. Furthermore, COTU declared that the victims' remains would not be brought back to their home village for customary burial ceremonies until law enforcement authorities apprehend the perpetrators behind the double murder.
Joint Security Formations Comb Border Regions
To preempt any further flare-up, joint security units comprising Manipur Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Assam Rifles have been conducting continuous security sweeps across the Kangpokpi-Senapati boundary. A statement from state police confirmed that extensive operations have been executed by combined teams of local police personnel, CoBRA, CRPF, Assam Rifles, and the Rapid Action Force in the general terrain east of National Highway 2 along the SP Road, focusing on securing fragile frontiers and tracking down suspects.
