The Kuki Youth Organisation has alleged that Hemjang Haokip was abducted by armed men suspected to be NSCN-IM cadres before his field hut was burned. The allegation has not been independently verified.
BY PC Bureau
October 4: A 71-year-old Kuki farmer was killed after he was abducted and his hut at his paddy field in Leimakhong Khunkho, in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, was set ablaze.
Officials said unidentified miscreants set fire to the paddy field during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. Security forces subsequently launched a search operation in and around Leimakhong Khunkho. Reports said that the body of Hemjang Haokip, a resident of Khunkho Kuki villag, was found dumped in a field. His hands were tired and his body wore sign of stab injuries.
The Kuki Youth Organisation (KYO), Leimakhong, claimed that armed men suspected to be cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) took Haokip away from his field at around 3 pm on Saturday. The organisation also alleged that his temporary field hut was subsequently set ablaze.
The allegation could not be independently verified, and there has been no confirmation that NSCN-IM cadres were involved in the incident.
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The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) separately alleged that Haokip had been taken away by armed men suspected to be linked to NSCN-IM and the ZUF-Kamson faction. These allegations also remain unverified.
A combined team of state and central security forces, including personnel of the CRPF’s Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), has been deployed in the area and launched an operation following the incident.
The killing comes amid heightened tensions in the Leimakhong-Khunkho area, with Kuki groups alleging that Naga residents have been preventing Kuki villagers from accessing their agricultural fields and harassing those travelling to their farms and homes.
These allegations have not been independently verified.
The latest incident has further heightened fears among residents in the area, where competing community claims and the presence of armed groups have kept tensions high.
Police and security forces are investigating the circumstances surrounding Haokip’s death and the events leading up to the burning of his field hut.
