Imphal | A counter-insurgency operation in Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday left one alleged Naga Village Guard dead and two personnel of the CRPF’s elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) injured, triggering protests and an indefinite emergency shutdown across several Naga-inhabited areas.

The deceased was identified as Lanbimei Riamei (22), son of Kadirang Riamei of Longmai Bazar in Noney district. According to official sources, he sustained bullet injuries during the operation and later succumbed to them.

Police said the injured CoBRA personnel were Head Constable Radheshyam and Constable (General Duty) Jitendra Kumar, who suffered minor splinter injuries during the exchange of fire. Both were evacuated for medical treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.

Officials also said that three other alleged Naga Village Guards were injured during the operation, although their identities had not been officially confirmed at the time of filing this report.

According to police and official sources, the intelligence-based operation began in the early hours near Biting village under Tupul subdivision after security agencies received specific inputs about the alleged presence of a training camp of the Naga Village Guards (NVG), a local armed village defence group.

Security forces reportedly came under fire after reaching the area, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire with the alleged village guards. Following the encounter, security personnel launched extensive search, combing and area domination operations, while additional reinforcements were rushed to the area to strengthen the security cordon. Officials said the operation was continuing at the time of filing the report.

The incident sparked strong reactions from the Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council, Manipur (WC-JTCM), which represents the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme communities.

In a statement, the organisation condemned the operation and alleged that CoBRA personnel had acted in collusion with members of ZUF-J during the operation. It further claimed that the security forces had deliberately targeted members of the Naga Village Guards, whom it described as community defence volunteers.

The allegations made by the WC-JTCM could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate response from the CRPF, security agencies or the Manipur government.

In protest, the tribal body announced an immediate and indefinite emergency shutdown across areas inhabited by the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme communities. The shutdown covers National Highways, railway construction projects and other Central government infrastructure projects passing through these areas.

However, the organisation clarified that essential services, including hospitals, healthcare facilities, schools, colleges, electricity, telecommunication networks and Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) water supply services, would remain exempt from the shutdown.

The WC-JTCM said the protest would continue until the Government of India takes what it termed “decisive and meaningful action” over the incident.

The latest operation comes amid intensified intelligence-led counter-insurgency operations across Manipur’s hill districts following recent incidents of violence and heightened security concerns. Security forces have increased surveillance and launched a series of targeted operations against armed groups in vulnerable areas of the state.

Local sources also reported disruptions in mobile communication services in parts of the Biting-Tupul area following the operation, although the cause of the disruption could not be independently verified.

Officials said a detailed report on the operation, including any recoveries, arrests and additional casualties, would be released after the operation concludes. With security forces maintaining a heavy presence in and around Biting village, the situation in Noney district remained tense on Wednesday evening as search operations continued.