Manipur: Kuki Woman Killed, Husband and Son Injured in Tamenglong Firing
IMPHAL, September 13: A Kuki woman was killed and her husband and son injured after armed men allegedly opened fire at their home in Tollen village, Tamenglong district, in the early hours of Sunday, local sources said.
The deceased was identified as Lhingjangai Singsit. Her husband, Seineh Singsit, sustained gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment. Their youngest son was also injured in the firing.
The incident reportedly occurred around 4 am. Local residents alleged that suspected NSCN-IM cadres and Naga Village Guards were involved in the attack. However, the allegation has not been independently verified, and no armed group had immediately claimed responsibility.
The couple’s three children were initially unaccounted for following the attack but were later traced. The youngest son reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to his arm, while another bullet was said to have lodged in his buttocks.
The attack took place on September 13, observed by the Kuki community as Sahnit Ni, or Kuki Black Day, in remembrance of victims of the Kuki-Naga violence of the 1990s.
The day commemorates those killed during the Joupi massacre on September 13, 1993, when numerous Kuki civilians were killed in parts of Tamenglong and the then Senapati district. Kuki organisations have previously alleged the involvement of NSCN-IM cadres in the killings.
Tollen, also known as Tolen, is a remote settlement in the Tousem area of Tamenglong West. The area’s difficult terrain and limited road connectivity can make emergency medical assistance and evacuation challenging.
The latest firing has heightened concerns over the possibility of renewed violence in remote parts of Tamenglong, where tensions between Kuki-Zo and Naga communities have remained a concern. The district and areas along the Imphal-Tamenglong Road have previously witnessed sporadic firing and clashes.
