A shutdown was observed across Kangpokpi district on Wednesday following the arrival of the body of a villager who was killed in Tamenglong district, triggering widespread grief and condemnation from Kuki civil society organisations.
The mortal remains of Haokhogin Lhouvum, a resident of Lasan village in Tamenglong district, were brought to Kangpokpi District Hospital at around 1:45 a.m. under tight security arrangements.
According to local sources, the team tasked with recovering the body encountered difficulties along the route and was compelled to take an alternative road before reaching Kangpokpi.
Lhouvum was killed on June 9 while working in a paddy field along with other villagers. Kuki organisations alleged that armed militants were responsible for the attack, although authorities have not officially confirmed the identity of the perpetrators.
Survivors reportedly told authorities that armed men opened fire on the group while they were engaged in agricultural activities. Lhouvum sustained fatal injuries in the attack, while the remaining villagers managed to escape unharmed.
Villagers also claimed that certain items believed to be linked to the incident were recovered from the area and later handed over to personnel of Tamei Police Station during the body recovery operation.
A large number of people gathered at Kangpokpi District Hospital to receive the body. Representatives of the Kuki Inpi, Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), and several other community organisations were present to pay their respects.
In response to the killing, CoTU announced a district-wide shutdown in Kangpokpi until the burial of the deceased. Educational institutions, business establishments and government offices remained closed during the shutdown, while essential services and vehicular movement were exempted.
As of the time of filing this report, the burial programme had not been finalised, and the body was being kept at the mortuary of Kangpokpi District Hospital.
Several Kuki organisations strongly condemned the killing and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident, along with stringent action against those responsible.
The incident has renewed concerns over security in parts of Manipur’s hill districts amid continuing tensions in the region.
