IMPHAL |  A woman was killed and two civilians went missing after suspected militants ambushed two motorcycles carrying four villagers in Manipur’s Kamjong district on Thursday evening, triggering fresh tensions in an already volatile region near the Indo-Myanmar border.

The deceased, identified as Hatneikim Haokip, was travelling with her husband, Jangkhongam Haokip, when the attack took place. Her husband reportedly sustained bullet injuries but survived. The body was recovered late Thursday night, while the whereabouts of the other two travellers remained unknown.

According to the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the attack occurred between 4 pm and 5 pm on the stretch between Molnoi and Phaikoh. The four villagers, travelling as two couples on two-wheelers, were reportedly heading towards Phaikoh to purchase essential commodities when they came under fire.

The missing civilians have been identified as D. Paokhothang Haokip and his wife, Boishi Haokip, both residents of Chassad village. Security personnel and local villagers launched search operations to trace the couple. The attack has heightened anxiety in Kamjong, where reports of armed clashes and a separate road blockade near the international border added to the uncertainty on Thursday night.

Deputy CM condemns attack, calls for swift action

Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the killing in a statement issued on October 15, describing the incident as a grave criminal act. She expressed condolences to the bereaved family and wished Jangkhongam Haokip a speedy and complete recovery.

Kipgen urged the district administration to maintain law and order, ensure a prompt investigation and identify and apprehend those responsible. She also appealed to community leaders, young people and citizens to exercise restraint and refrain from spreading rumours or responding to provocations.

“Peace, mutual respect, and the safety of all people must remain our shared and highest commitment,” she said. The circumstances surrounding the ambush, including the identity of the attackers and their motive, had not been independently established.

Road blockade near Indo-Myanmar border

In a separate development, Naga women reportedly blocked a road near Border Pillar 102 in Kamjong district to prevent a security convoy from proceeding. The blockade continued until late Thursday night. Reports of armed clashes in nearby areas further aggravated tensions. Details about the groups involved, the sequence of events and any casualties were not immediately available.

The developments unfolded as security forces and villagers searched for the missing couple following the attack on the four civilians. The combination of the killing, the unresolved disappearance and the border-area confrontation raised fresh concerns about the security situation in the district.

Kuki-Zo Council alleges NSCN-IM role, demands impartial probe

The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) condemned the ambush and called for an immediate and impartial investigation. In a statement issued on Thursday, the council alleged that cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) were responsible for the attack. The allegation has not been independently verified.

The council claimed that the number of Kuki-Zo civilians killed in violence attributed to NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) had reached 30. It called for accountability and argued that allegations involving armed groups should be investigated without favour or discrimination.

The KZC also questioned Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho’s reported demand for the removal of Nemcha Kipgen over allegations of complicity in the killing of Naga civilians. The council argued that allegations concerning Dikho’s alleged links with NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) should also be examined.

These assertions and allegations against political figures have not been independently established.

The council further contended that if Naga leaders were demanding the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with Kuki militant groups under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF), the ceasefire arrangement with NSCN-IM should also be reviewed.

It also argued that if the president of the Kuki National Front (P), or KNF (P), was to be arrested and treated as a terrorist, NSCN-IM’s leadership should face appropriate legal action if found responsible for attacks on Kuki civilians, including incidents dating back to the 1990s.

“No individual or organisation should be above the law,” the council said, calling for equal application of the law regardless of the community affected or the organisation accused.

Missing couple remains the immediate concern

The Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body of the Kuki community, also condemned the attack and expressed concern over the fate of Paokhothang Haokip and Boishi Haokip. According to the organisation, Hatneikim died in the attack, while her husband escaped with bullet injuries. The missing couple’s whereabouts remained unknown as search efforts continued.

The immediate priorities remain tracing the missing civilians, establishing the circumstances of the ambush and identifying those responsible. With tensions also reported near the international border, appeals for restraint have underscored the risk of further escalation before the facts of the attack are fully established.