One person was killed and two injured in a firing incident near Charoi Pandongba village, sparking protests and demands for a thorough investigation.
Noney, June 8: A 57-year-old man was killed and two others were injured in a firing incident near Charoi Pandongba village on Monday morning, triggering protests by local residents and community organisations demanding justice and enhanced security for civilians.
According to local reports, a group of villagers from Charoi Pandongba Part-I had gone to repair a water supply line at Changphai Kailong in the early hours of the day when they allegedly came under attack from suspected armed Kuki militants. The incident reportedly occurred at around 5 am.
The deceased was identified as Chunjanglung Panmei (57), son of late Kamugapou Panmei and a resident of Charoi Pandongba Part-I. He reportedly sustained multiple bullet injuries and died at the spot.
The two injured persons were identified as Jangthuilung Gangmei (45), son of late Kuringam Gangmei, and Gaichuanlung Daimei (26), son of Guangchalin Daimei, both residents of Charoi Pandongba Part-I. They were evacuated for medical treatment.
Following the incident, women and members of the Zeliangrong community from the Longmai area staged a protest at Charoi Pandongba Bazar along National Highway-37 under New Keithelmanbi Police Station. Protesters condemned the attack and raised slogans demanding justice and protection for civilians.
During the demonstration, protesters questioned why the village water supply line had allegedly been damaged and why civilians engaged in repairing an essential public utility were targeted. They urged both the State and Central governments to take immediate measures to ensure the safety of residents and bring those responsible to justice.
The incident also drew strong reactions from several community organisations.
In a statement, the Pongringlong Youth Club (PYC) said Panmei, who served as a village guard of Pongringlong Part-I Rongmei Naga village, had initially gone missing during the attack and was later found dead with apparent bullet wounds. The organisation called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and urged the public not to circulate unverified information.
The Rongmei Naga Council Manipur (RNCM) condemned what it described as an unprovoked attack on Rongmei Naga village guards. The organisation stated that Panmei's disappearance following the incident had caused concern among villagers and called on authorities to ensure the security of residents and conduct a proper investigation into the attack.
The Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council Manipur (JTCM) also issued a statement condemning the incident. The organisation alleged that armed assailants had targeted Rongmei Naga civilians and called for urgent action by the authorities. It further urged the government to strengthen security measures in the area and ensure the safety of local residents.
Meanwhile, local organisations and community leaders have demanded a comprehensive investigation into the incident and stringent action against those found responsible.
According to local sources, the body of the deceased was recovered by a team from New Keithelmanbi Police Station led by Additional Superintendent of Police Samir, along with volunteers from the Longmai area, and was taken to Imphal for post-mortem examination.
The incident also drew condemnation from the Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland), which described the killing of Chunjanglung Panmei as a brutal attack on an innocent civilian.
In a statement, the Union said Panmei, a resident of Pongringlong (Charoi Pandongba) village under Gamphajol Sub-Division in Kangpokpi district, had gone to repair the village's potable water pipeline, which it described as the sole source of drinking water for the community. The organisation alleged that the pipeline had earlier been damaged by armed Kuki militants and claimed that Panmei was killed while carrying out the repair work.
The Union termed the incident a grave violation of human dignity and said such acts of violence deepen mistrust, heighten communal tensions and threaten peace in Manipur. It urged both the Manipur Government and the Government of India to conduct a thorough investigation, identify those responsible and ensure that they are brought to justice.
The organisation also called on the authorities to strengthen security measures in vulnerable and conflict-affected areas and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. It stated that continued attacks on civilians and damage to essential public infrastructure could further aggravate the security situation and contribute to a wider humanitarian crisis.
Expressing concern over the possible impact on inter-community relations, the Union said timely and decisive action was necessary to prevent further loss of life and maintain peace and stability in the region. The Zeliangrong Union extended its condolences to the bereaved family and expressed solidarity with the residents of Pongringlong village.
Police and security agencies had not issued any official statement on the incident at the time of filing this report.
