MANIPUR POLICE RESCUE TWO KUKIS IN MEITEI-DOMINATED AREA

Manipur Police, working with central security forces, carried out a swift night-time operation at Yaingangpokpi Bazar in Imphal East and rescued two Kuki men — Lalminlun (45) of H. Lhangjol village and Sesem (45) of Sangran village, Kangpokpi — who had been reported missing in Meitei-dominated areas. The two were spotted in an auto-rickshaw and safely handed over to their families. The rescue came amid pressure from the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), which issued a 48-hour ultimatum after alleging the abduction and torture of another Kuki civilian, Kamginlal Chongloi. Since the ethnic violence that began on May 3, 2023, the Kuki-Zo community has imposed movement restrictions on Meiteis in certain buffer zones — context that sharpens every incident. 

Who was involved: The operation was carried out by Manipur Police in coordination with central security forces. The rescued men are named Lalminlun (45) from H. Lhangjol and Sesem (45) from Sangran — both villages are in Kangpokpi district.  

• Where it happened: The men were found at Yaingangpokpi Bazar in Imphal East district, an area described as Meitei-dominated.  

• How they were found: Police observed the two in an auto-rickshaw and subsequently handed them back to their families safely. The rescue came after their families had reported them missing and after law enforcement remained on alert.  

• What else was happening: The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) — a Kuki-Zo body — had issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding action after alleging that another Kuki civilian, Kamginlal Chongloi, had been intercepted, abducted, and brutally tortured. This ultimatum added urgency and pressure on the police to find the missing men and to act publicly.  

FAQs

Q1: Who were the two rescued men and where were they from?

A1: The two men were Lalminlun (45) from H. Lhangjol village and Sesem (45) from Sangran village — both located in Kangpokpi district. They were rescued at Yaingangpokpi Bazar in Imphal East.  

Q2: Who carried out the rescue operation?

A2: The Manipur Police, in coordination with central security forces, conducted the night-time operation that located the two men and handed them safely to their families.  

Q3: Why did the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) issue an ultimatum?

A3: CoTU issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding action after reporting the alleged abduction and brutal torture of a Kuki civilian, Kamginlal Chongloi. The ultimatum aimed to pressure authorities to investigate and to locate missing persons.  

Q4: Does this rescue mean tensions in Manipur are easing?

A4: Not necessarily. The rescue is a positive operational outcome, but it exists within an ongoing, fragile context of ethnic tensions and movement restrictions that began after the violence of May 3, 2023. Long-term easing requires sustained trust-building, impartial investigations and political dialogue.  

Q5: What should authorities do now to prevent future incidents?

A5: Authorities should investigate alleged abductions transparently, establish faster and safer missing-person reporting systems, protect witnesses, and work with community leaders to negotiate movement safety and prevent escalation. Independent monitoring of investigations would also increase public trust.