Another Kuki woman killed in Manipur ambush

Kuki-Zo woman, was killed in an ambush by suspected Naga militants, severed head of Naga man found

GUWAHATI: A Kuki-Zo woman was killed and her husband injured in an alleged ambush by suspected Naga militants in Manipur’s Kamjong district on Thursday, while two other members of the community were reported missing as ethnic violence continued in the state.The deceased, Hatneikim Haokip, was from Molnoi village.Preliminary information suggests the group was travelling to Phaikoh to buy essential commodities when they were ambushed on the road between Phaikoh and Aishu. Hatneikim’s husband was injured, while the two other civilians who were with them remain missing.Thursday’s attack has taken the number of Kuki-Zo women killed in the Kuki-Naga clashes to 10, including two pregnant women.

The clashes followed the Kuki-Meitei conflict that continued from 2023 to 2025.The attack came five days after nine people were killed across three districts, including two Kukis — one of them a woman — a Gorkha and six Naga men.Since the Kuki-Naga clashes began in Feb this year, at least 22 Naga and 32 Kuki-Zo people have been killed.Late on Wednesday night, security forces found the severed head of Naga man Ajinbou Ringkamai in Kangpokpi district.

He was one of four Naga men killed when suspected Kuki militants attacked Makui Ashang village there on Oct 10. His head had been severed during the attack and remained missing. His headless body was taken to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal on Oct 11.“The head was found in an isolated area near the site by security forces late on Wednesday night, and it was brought to JNIMS this morning for autopsy,” a senior official said.Joint Tribes Council Manipur, a Naga organisation, had given the authorities a 48-hour ultimatum to locate the head and ensure a proper funeral.Manipur home minister Govindas Konthoujam, speaking in Imphal on Thursday while visiting 84 BSF personnel admitted to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences with suspected food poisoning, said govt effort and security measures alone could not end the violence.“When the general people do not have humanity, then nobody can stop killing each other.

We should understand that,” he said. “Killing will never solve any problem. We should talk to each other, and all differences should be resolved through dialogue.”He said govt was working to initiate dialogue but that society also had a role. “Security alone cannot solve the problem. We, the society and the people, should also try to restrain any kind of anger,” he said.Separately, Lt Gen Girish Kalia, General Officer Commanding of Spear Corps, visited an Assam Rifles forward post in Manipur on Thursday and reviewed the security situation.

He was briefed on the preparedness of troops guarding India-Myanmar border.

India shares a 1,643 km border with Myanmar, of which 398 km is in Manipur. Fencing has started, and nearly 55 km has been completed in the state. Govt plans to finish it by 2028. Hilly, forested terrain and resistance from militant outfits that use the border to move between the two countries are slowing the work.