A shutdown was observed across Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on June 10 following the arrival of the body of a villager who was killed in neighbouring Tamenglong district, triggering widespread grief and condemnation from several Kuki civil society organisations.
The mortal remains of Haokhogin Lhouvum, a resident of Lasan village in Tamenglong district, reached Kangpokpi District Hospital at around 1:45 am under security arrangements.
According to local sources, the team tasked with recovering the body encountered difficulties along the route and was compelled to take an alternative road before eventually reaching Kangpokpi.
Lhouvum was killed on June 9 while working in a paddy field along with other villagers. Kuki organisations alleged that armed militants were responsible for the attack, although authorities have not officially identified the perpetrators.
Survivors claimed that armed men opened fire on the group while they were engaged in agricultural activities. While Lhouvum sustained fatal injuries, the others managed to flee the area.
Villagers said certain items believed to be connected to the incident were recovered from the site and later handed over to personnel from Tamei Police Station during the body recovery operation.
A large number of people assembled at Kangpokpi District Hospital to receive the body. Representatives of the Kuki Inpi, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and other community organisations were present.
Following the incident, CoTU announced a district-wide shutdown in Kangpokpi until the burial of the deceased. Educational institutions, government offices and commercial establishments remained closed, though essential services and vehicular movement were exempted from the bandh.
At the time of filing this report, the funeral programme had not been finalised and the body was being kept in the mortuary of the district hospital.
Several Kuki organisations strongly condemned the killing and demanded a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible. The incident has once again raised concerns over the security situation in parts of Manipur’s hill districts.
