Militants kill 4, injure child in Manipur on Kuki 'Black Day'
Four people, including a couple, were killed, and a six-year-old boy was injured in two separate attacks by armed assailants in Manipur’s Tamenglong district on Sunday, police said.
Police have launched an investigation to identify those behind the attacks, though no group has claimed responsibility so far.
The attacks took place hours apart on September 13, observed by the Kuki community as “Sahit Ni” or “Black Day” in memory of those killed during the Kuki-Naga ethnic violence of the 1990s.
The violence came amid continuing tensions in Manipur, where clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023 have killed at least 306 people, left 49 missing and displaced thousands.
The first attack took place around 5.30 am at Tollen village, where 46-year-old Lhingzangai Sinshit was killed on the spot. Her husband, Seineh Singsit, and their six-year-old son suffered serious bullet injuries.
Both were taken to Silchar Medical College in Assam, but Seineh died on the way. The child is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Hours later, two people were killed in another attack at Longpi village. The Western Village Volunteers, a Kuki group, identified them as Jilie Singson and Reol Gangte and said they were attacked while carrying out household work.
The village is around 30 km from the nearest police station and could not be reached immediately because of poor road conditions, police said. A team was expected to visit the site on Monday to conduct an inquiry.
The Kuki group alleged that members of the NSCN-IM and the Zeliangrong United Front-Kamson were behind the killings.VILLAGE BODY APPEALS FOR CALM
The Kaimai Village Authority condemned the Tollen attack and described it as a “deliberate and malicious attempt to create disharmony, suspicion and division” among communities that had lived together peacefully.
It called for an impartial investigation and appealed to the Kuki and Naga communities not to spread rumours or provocative messages that could heighten tensions.
“We, the people of Kaimai Naga village, stand firmly for peace, unity and communal harmony,” it said.
The Kuki Youth Organisation Women’s Council also demanded an impartial investigation, the arrest of those responsible and better protection for vulnerable civilians.POLITICAL LEADERS CONDEMN ATTACKS
BJP leader and former Manipur CM N Biren Singh described the Tollen attack as “deeply disturbing and heartbreaking”.
“The safety and security of innocent civilians must remain our foremost concern. Such violence only adds to the suffering of ordinary people and further undermines the fragile path towards peace,” Singh said.
Naga People’s Front MLA Awangbou Newmai also condemned the attack, saying that targeting unarmed people, women and children was a “cowardly act that has no place in civilised society”.- EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Sep 13, 2026 22:11 IST
