Imphal: "Makui Ashang Naga villagers allege church equipment was taken and cows killed after a deadly attack, by armed kuki militants, raising urgent questions about security, accountability and justice in Manipur."
Fresh allegations surrounding the attack on Makui Ashang, a Liangmai Naga village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, have intensified concerns over the safety of villagers, the recovery of victims’ bodies and the accountability of armed kuki militant groups operating in the area.
Photographs circulated after the attack appear to show alleged armed kuki militants carrying what villagers identify as musical equipment belonging to a local Liangmai Naga church, alongside images of slaughtered cows belonging to the Liangmai Naga village.
The allegations have emerged amid reports of deadly attacks on Naga villagers and village guards along the Imphal–Tamenglong Road, with casualties reported in Makui Ashang and neighbouring Tapon Liangmai village.
Four reported deaths and two injuries
Reports from the ground describe an attack involving firearms and other weapons in and around Makui Ashang. Residents have alleged that armed Kuki militants were responsible, although individual responsibility must be established through a credible investigation.
As per ground zero report, three Naga village guards were killed in an attack on Makui Ashang, while a separate attack at Tapon Liangmai village left one civilian dead and two others injured.
The four reported fatalities were Machungamang Daimai, a Naga Village Guard (NVG) and son of Ajanbou Daimai, who was reportedly killed in an ambush at Tapon village; Dibambou Ringkangmai, 48, son of Kingsubui Ringkangmai, whose death was confirmed at Makui; Ajinbou R., 52, son of Namhothiubou Ringkangmai, a Makui–Thanamba villager who was reportedly killed and whose head was reported missing; and Ramningpou Gangmei, 53, a Naga Village Guard from Luangchum village, Tamenglong, son of Lungsangpou Gangmei.
The two injured persons were Mathangambou Chawang, son of Adibou, from Kadi-2, and Nashon Pame, son of Mereikeu Pame, from Impa village.
The reported killings have left residents confronting not only the loss of lives but also serious questions about their ability to protect their vilages and retrieve those killed in the violence.
Disturbing allegations surrounding a victim’s death
One of the most disturbing aspects of the incident concerns footage reportedly circulated on social media showing a deceased villager with his head severed and his body mutilated.
According to information provided by villagers, the victim’s family has confirmed the identity of the person shown in the footage as Ajinpou Ringkangmai. The circumstances of his death, the authenticity and provenance of the video, and the identity of those responsible require confirmation through the investigating authorities.
If established, the reported treatment of the victim’s body would represent an especially grave act of violence. The allegations warrant an urgent, impartial investigation, including the preservation of digital evidence and the collection of forensic findings.
Questions over church equipment and livestock
Images shared in connection with the incident appear to show an alleged armed kuki militant carrying a large electronic musical instrument, which villagers identify as a keyboard or piano, while other armed kuki militant carry what appears to be a loudspeaker or sound system. Separate portions of the photographs show the remains of slaughtered cow carried by the armed kuki militants in uniforms.
Villagers allege that church equipment and other goods were taken during or after the attack and that three Naga-owned cows were killed.
For residents, the alleged loss of church property carries significance beyond its monetary value. Community institutions often serve as places of worship, gathering and mutual support, making any reported attack on them a matter of considerable concern.
Villagers question the government’s response
Residents have questioned why the authorities have not yet publicly established the identities of those responsible, particularly when photographs and videos are reportedly circulating that may provide investigative leads.
Their concern is not limited to this incident. It follows earlier episodes of violence affecting Naga settlements and travellers along the Imphal–Tamenglong Road, where villagers have repeatedly raised concerns about security, access to remote locations and the risks involved in retrieving injured people and bodies.
The existence of photographs showing armed individuals does not automatically establish their identities or prove their involvement in particular offences. However, where authentic images are available, investigators should examine them promptly, preserve the original files, establish when and where they were recorded, and compare them with witness accounts and other evidence.
The government and police should explain what steps have been taken to investigate the killings, identify suspects, recover evidence and prevent further attacks. If suspects have been identified, the authorities should clarify the legal action taken, subject to the requirements of an ongoing investigation.
Security and accountability cannot wait
The latest reports underline the vulnerability of communities living in remote hill settlements, particularly where access routes are exposed to armed attacks and the movement of security personnel is difficult.
An effective response requires more than statements appealing for calm. It requires a credible investigation, protection for threatened villages, timely medical assistance for the injured, safe recovery of victims and transparent communication with affected families.
The authorities should also investigate the reported use of sophisticated firearms and any allegations involving drones, establishing what weapons were used and who was responsible. Such findings should be based on physical evidence, forensic examination and verified accounts rather than assumptions about the identity of the perpetrators.
For the families who have lost relatives, the immediate priority is to establish the full circumstances of each death and ensure that those responsible are brought before the law. For villagers, it is also a question of whether they can continue living and travelling in their own area without fear of another attack.
The photographs circulating from Makui Ashang may provide important leads, but they are not a substitute for a professional investigation. The responsibility now rests with the authorities to establish the facts, pursue the evidence and make their findings known.
NEWire will update this report as further verified information becomes available.
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