A Kuki-Zo farmer was shot dead in Kangpokpi's Govajang village as CoTU questioned security lapses and demanded stronger action against armed groups after the latest attack.
Kangpokpi, July 12: A 53-year-old Kuki-Zo farmer was allegedly shot dead while working in his jhum field in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Saturday, triggering fresh concerns over civilian safety in the conflict-affected hill districts and drawing strong criticism from the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), which questioned the effectiveness of recent security operations in the area.
The victim, identified as Haolal Singsit (53), son of Paokhohen Singsit of Govajang village, was allegedly attacked by armed cadres while working alongside his wife, Nemneikim Singsit, in their field. His wife reportedly escaped unharmed.
According to local sources, the couple was tending to their jhum cultivation when heavily armed assailants allegedly opened indiscriminate fire at around 4 pm. Villagers said they heard nearly 20 rounds of gunfire from the direction of the fields, creating panic in the area.
When the couple failed to return home by evening, residents launched a search and later found Haolal Singsit's body lying in the field with multiple gunshot wounds. His wife managed to flee during the attack and later informed villagers about the incident, according to local accounts.
The killing occurred just days after security forces conducted a search-and-combing operation near Govajang village in Tamei Sub-Division of Tamenglong district, during which several sophisticated weapons were reportedly recovered. The latest incident has prompted fresh questions from local organisations over whether the operation had succeeded in preventing armed groups from operating in the area.
Govajang village, located under the Tadubi Assembly Constituency in Tujang Vaichong Sub-Division of Kangpokpi district, is considered one of the last Kuki-Zo villages in the Twilang region. Situated around 10 kilometres from the Tujang Vaichong Sub-Divisional Headquarters, the remote village has long been regarded by residents as vulnerable because of its location.
Condemning the killing, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills Kangpokpi, alleged that the attack exposed serious shortcomings in the prevailing security arrangements.
In a statement, the organisation claimed the victim was shot by suspected NSCN-IM and ZUF-Kamson militants despite the presence of security forces in the region and despite a recent combing operation conducted to improve security.
CoTU questioned how heavily armed militants were able to enter the area and allegedly carry out a fatal attack on civilians only days after security personnel had searched the locality.
The organisation urged both the Central and State governments to reassess the existing security strategy and strengthen protection for vulnerable villages located along the conflict-prone fringe areas.
It also demanded that those responsible for the killing be identified, arrested and prosecuted at the earliest.
The organisation maintained that repeated security operations would have little impact unless they were followed by sustained measures to prevent armed groups from returning to civilian areas.
On Sunday, thousands of mourners from across the Kuki-Zo community gathered at Kangpokpi Community Hall to pay their final respects to Haolal Singsit before his body was taken to Govajang village for burial.
Family members, community leaders, women, youths and residents offered floral tributes and prayers as the slain farmer's mortal remains were brought from his native village following post-mortem examination.
The condolence programme concluded with renewed calls for justice and stronger protection for civilians living in vulnerable border villages.
Addressing the media during the condolence programme, CoTU spokesperson Ng. Lun Kipgen strongly condemned the killing and described it as another attack on innocent civilians.
He alleged that the incident reflected what he termed the continued targeting of Kuki-Zo villagers by armed Tangkhul militant groups and questioned the effectiveness of recent security measures.
Kipgen also claimed the attack occurred despite heightened security following recent investigations and arrests linked to earlier incidents of violence.
According to him, the Govajang killing was the second violent incident reported in the Twilang area within a month, referring to an earlier fatal incident reported on June 9.
He questioned how armed militants could allegedly continue to operate despite security deployments and combing operations carried out only a day before the attack.
Kipgen further urged the Government of India to take stronger action against what he described as NSCN and ZUF armed groups operating in the region, warning that civilians would remain vulnerable unless effective measures were implemented.
He also appealed to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to ensure impartial governance and strengthen security in conflict-affected areas.
CoTU maintained that the latest killing reflected the continuing insecurity faced by civilians in Manipur's hill districts despite repeated assurances of restoring peace.
The organisation urged the authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the incident, identify those responsible and enhance security arrangements in remote villages exposed to recurring violence.
The killing of Haolal Singsit adds to the growing number of civilian casualties reported from Manipur's conflict-affected areas since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023, underscoring the continuing challenges in restoring lasting peace and ensuring the safety of residents living along the state's volatile border regions.
