Imphal, August 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
At least four people, including the principal of a private school, were killed and another injured after armed militants ambushed a vehicle in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Thursday, officials said.
The attack took place in an isolated stretch between Makui Ashang and Thanamba Naga village, where the assailants opened fire at close range. A police official in Imphal said all four victims belonged to the Liangmai Naga community and died at the spot.
The bodies were subsequently taken to Senapati District Hospital, where the injured person was also treated.
The deceased were identified as Wisobou Charenamai, Tadsongbou Ringkangmai, Mariakdibou Wijunamai and Anil Wijunamai. Gaikamang Ringkangmai sustained injuries, while Naga student leader Japou M.K. escaped the attack unharmed.
Charenamai was chairman of the Chawangkining Village Authority and a former vice-president of a local organisation. Ringkangmai was the founder and principal of Right Path School, a private educational institution.
The killings triggered protests in Senapati district headquarters, with the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) calling for shops and business establishments to shut down.
Several Naga organisations alleged that two to three armed Kuki militants were behind the attack on Naga civilians travelling along the route. The stretch between Makui Ashang and Thanamba Naga is considered an important lifeline for Naga communities living along the IT Road.
The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex Naga organisation in Manipur, strongly condemned the killings and alleged a failure of security arrangements along the IT Road. It also accused the government of discriminatory deployment of security forces and alleged that Kuki militants covered under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement were being allowed to operate freely.
The UNC demanded immediate action against those responsible, along with the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killings. It said the incident should not go unpunished and alleged that the attack represented a serious escalation in the region.
The council described the incident as a challenge to peace, the Naga political dialogue and the ongoing peace process between the government and Naga groups. It also expressed concern over the security of Naga communities in their ancestral areas.
Naga organisations called on the authorities and security agencies to immediately strengthen civilian security along the IT Road, identify and arrest those responsible for the attack and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the sensitive region.
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