Karbi Anglong: The body of Nehkam Jomhao, a prominent leader of the Thadou community, was recovered from a river in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Thursday, five days after he was allegedly killed by members of an armed group. Jomhao, 59, was abducted from his residence at Chonghang Veng in the Manja area on August 30 around 7:30 pm, according to police reports. His death has sparked shock and grief among the Thadou community, which has long asserted its distinct ethnic identity, separate from other tribal groups in the region. In a statement issued on September 4, the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) Assam, which operates under a ceasefire agreement, expressed being “shocked and deeply saddened by the heinous crime.” The group’s general secretary, LS Gangte, named five alleged perpetrators: Samson Kuki, Jangpu Hangsing, Mangneo Sitlhou, Kakap Lenthang, and Thangmoi Hmar. Earlier, on August 31, District Superintendent of Police Sanjib Saikia confirmed the arrest of six individuals, including suspected KRA members. “They confessed to having killed the abducted person,” Saikia told reporters, adding that the motive was still under investigation. Preliminary findings suggest the killing may be linked to Jomhao’s peace-building efforts with Meitei organisations. Community leaders allege he was targeted for promoting reconciliation initiatives that conflicted with the interests of certain armed factions. The Thadous have been caught in the crossfire of the broader Kuki-Meitei conflict that erupted in Manipur in May 2023. Unlike other groups, they have consistently resisted being placed under the broader Kuki umbrella, maintaining their separate ethnic identity. As police investigations continue, the Thadou community is mourning the loss of one of its most influential voices for peace.
