Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Armed militants ambushed a vehicle on the Imphal-Tamenglong Road in Kangpokpi district at 8:30 am Thursday. The attack killed five men instantly. A sixth victim, identified as village chairman Wisobou Charenamai, was initially reported missing before being found dead. These killings bring the confirmed death toll to six.
The victims include Tadsongbou Ringkangmai, founder of Right Path School, and school student leader Japou MK. Also killed were Makui Youth Club members Mariakdibou Wijunamai and Anil Wijunamai. Gaikamang Ringkangmai sustained injuries during the ambush. The violence occurred on a stretch between Makui Ashang and Thanamba Naga.
The Naga People’s Organisation called for the immediate closure of shops in Senapati district to protest the violence. This tragedy followed a high-level peace meeting involving Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho and the United Naga Council just one day prior. Security forces are now sweeping the area.
Violence spread further along the IT Road corridor Thursday morning. Gunfire erupted near Naibet at 9:20 am as armed men targeted Kuki farmers guarding their paddy crops near Wakotphai village. Local Kuki-Zo volunteers returned fire, forcing farmers to abandon their temporary field huts. Local sources blamed NSCN-IM cadres for the assault. One local source stated, "The incident occurred a day after a high-level meeting in Senapati involving Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho."
The IT Road remains a dangerous artery for remote villages. It is a flashpoint for ongoing clashes between Naga and Kuki factions. Authorities have yet to release an official account of either attack.
Updated at 28th August 2026 at 1:50am
Kuki organizations including the M. Wakotphai Village Authority, Tah Chapa Village Volunteers, and Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers have publicly condemned the Naibet shooting. They allege the attackers were a combined force of Tangkhul-Liangmei Naga militants operating under the NSCN-IM. These groups are now demanding a government review of the ongoing ceasefire agreement with the NSCN-IM, claiming the arrangement is being exploited to carry out these strikes.
The village authorities and volunteer groups have called for an immediate deployment of additional security forces to the area to protect farmers and secure the IT Road. They warned that the current lack of official action could push the region into further chaos. While the initial reports of the ambush remain a primary focus, these Kuki organizations maintain their defensive actions were necessary to prevent further harm to civilians working the fields.
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