Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Four Tangkhul Naga civilians died Thursday near the Myanmar border. Gunmen surrounded five men at Pilong village in the Kamjong district. Only Akhan Kaping of Ukhrul escaped the trap. He reported the attack to authorities.
The victims are Phami Jajo and his father Vareishim Jajo from Kangpat Khullen, Betterson Jajo from Kangpat Khunou, and Ningthem Kashak from Zingsui. The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) blamed the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) and allied narco-terrorist groups for the slaughter. The attack occurred around 1:30 pm, roughly 35 kilometers from the Kamjong headquarters.
Reports indicate the bodies remain unrecovered. The terrain near border pillars 91 to 93 is rugged and remote. While some sources cite gunfire at 4:30 pm, the TNL maintains the violence began earlier in the afternoon.
The TNL launched a 24-hour emergency total shutdown in response. It started at 7:00 am on September 25 and ends at 7:00 am on September 26. The group expects total compliance across its jurisdiction. "The total shutdown, which will commence at 07:00 am of 25th September, 2026 and end at 07:00 am of 26 September, 2026 shall strictly be observed by one and all," the TNL stated. Medical, power, fire, and funeral services remain exempt from these restrictions.
Updated at 25th September 2026 at 2:00pm
Local police dispatched a team to the remote village to verify the killings following reports from residents. Authorities had not formally confirmed the deaths as of late Thursday evening, with officers noting that the site remains under investigation.
While locals identified the victims as residents of the Pilong area, the incident has spiked tensions across the border zone as officials work to confirm the details of the attack.
Updated at 25th September 2026 at 5:50pm
Search teams recovered the four bodies bearing bullet marks in an isolated area near Pilong early Friday morning. The victims were transported to Kamjong district headquarters for post-mortem examinations.
Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh condemned the attack, calling for more professional border guarding and tighter security along the actual border line. He cited security models from the India-Bangladesh border as a benchmark for the central government to adopt on the Myanmar frontier.
The Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long provided further details on the assault, alleging that militants crossed the Namya River from a Kuki village in Myanmar. The organization claimed two men were shot near Pilong, while the attackers abducted the other two and killed them in the nearby village of Phailen. This incident marks the third such attack on Naga villagers in the region, according to the group.
Updated at 25th September 2026 at 9:53pm
Police have filed a suo motu case, FIR number 13(09)2026 CSD-PS, against the suspected KNA-B militants. The charges include violations under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Arms Act. Investigators report that the gunmen carried sophisticated firearms and crossed from the Myanmar side of the border into Pilong.
Official records now clarify the victims' ages and family details: Phami Jajo was 43, Ningthem Kashak was 35, Betterson Jajo was 50, and Vareishim Jajo was 67. Survivor Akhan Kaping was located and rescued late Thursday night in the jungle between Pilong and Kangpat by a combined party of security personnel and local residents.
Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing pushed for immediate government action, citing the porous nature of the 120 kilometer border stretch. He noted that the area has seen previous incursions this year, specifically naming attacks in Choro, Namlee, and Wanglee back in May. The MLA is calling for both a resolution to disputed border segments and an acceleration of fencing projects to block future infiltration.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 10:01am
Survivor Varekan Kaping revealed that the five men were stationed at the border to guard the village after women and children evacuated due to prior threats. Kaping noted the group split up, with four men resting in a spot with mobile coverage while he moved to a nearby house. He heard gunfire and hid in the jungle for nearly an hour while the attackers waited for other residents to emerge before finally retreating.
Official records from the FIR detail the victims' lineage: Phami Jajo was the son of Vareishim Jajo. Ningthem Kashak, 35, was the son of Ningon Kashak. Betterson Jajo, 50, was the son of Tennyson Jajo. Vareishim Jajo, 67, was the son of late Buning Jajo.
Political leaders are demanding accountability for the security vacuum. During a condolence service at Kamjong headquarters, NPF leader Awangbou Newmai cited a string of recent violence, including attacks on homes, churches, and schools in Pipuram, Chamriupiu, and Thebram, alongside the murder of Paojangam Chongloi in Tamei. Student body Raizan Katamnao Long warned against viewing the tragedy in isolation, flagging concerns over potential collusion between militants and elements of the security establishment.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 2:16pm
The Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long (WC-TNL) expanded its allegations on Friday, claiming the attackers included Kuki elements backed by the Myanmar-based People's Defence Force (PDF). They also identified the survivor as Akhan Kaping of Hunphun village and stated he was rescued by local civil society groups late Thursday night.
The KNA-B released a statement on Friday categorically denying involvement in the attack. The group claimed the four deceased were actually cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isak-Muivah/Eastern Flank (NSCN (IM/EF)) involved in drug trafficking. The KNA-B alleged the men were killed inside Myanmar during a drug-related clash and that their bodies were later moved across the border into India to frame the militants. The group cited a zero-tolerance policy regarding narcotics and called for an official investigation into the location of the incident and the movement of the bodies.
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