The Naga Village Guard, Eastern Command (NVG-EC) has condemned the killing of a village guard from Pongringlong Part‑I in Noney district, saying the incident appeared to be a targeted attack on Rongmei Naga villagers.

In a statement, the NVG‑EC said armed Kuki militants allegedly ambushed a group of Rongmei villagers collecting firewood in the forested area between Pongringlong and Charoi Pondaijang at about 5 a.m. on June 8, 2026. While most villagers reportedly escaped, the organisation said 57‑year‑old village guard Chunjanglung Panmei went missing. A subsequent search allegedly recovered his body in a nearby jungle; the NVG‑EC said he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was believed to have been captured before being killed.

The NVG‑EC also alleged that Pongringlong villagers have faced repeated attacks in recent weeks, citing incidents on May 26 and June 5, 2026, which it attributed to Kuki militants and cadres operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement.

Condemning the killing as a “heinous crime,” the organisation warned of a “befitting retaliation,” called attention to the security challenges facing Naga villages, and extended condolences to Panmei’s family while honouring his service as a village guard.

No independent confirmation of the attackers’ identity or details of the incident has been reported. Local authorities have not yet issued an official statement.