BY PC Bureau
January 23, 2026: The body of Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh, 31, a Meitei man who was abducted and shot dead in Churachandpur district, was handed over to his family by police in Kakching district, near his native village of Kakching Khunou Uchan Makhong Leikai, amid protests and mounting demands for justice.
Rishikanta, also known as M. Rishikanta or Rishikanta Mayanglamba, had been living with his wife Chingnu Haokip, a member of the Kuki-Zo community, in Tuibong village, Churachandpur, since his return from Nepal around December 19, 2025. The couple had reportedly obtained permission from local Kuki authorities to stay there temporarily.
On the evening of January 21, unidentified armed men abducted the couple from their residence. Rishikanta was later taken to the Natjang area under Henglep police station limits, where he was shot dead at close range. A disturbing video of the killing, which later went viral, showed him pleading for his life before being executed. His wife was later released unharmed.
READ: Killed Meitei Man Had Lived in Churachandpur Since Dec 19
Police recovered the body late on January 21 and transported it to the Churachandpur District Hospital morgue, where it arrived around 1.30 am on January 22 for postmortem examination. Due to prevailing ethnic tensions and security concerns preventing the family from travelling safely to the Kuki-Zo–dominated hill district, the victim’s identity was confirmed through a video call, coordinated by Kakching police.
Kakching Superintendent of Police L. Priyadarshini personally met the family and facilitated the process. Following the postmortem, the body was transferred from Churachandpur to Kakching and formally handed over to the family on January 22, allowing funeral rites to be performed in the victim’s home village.
The decision to hand over the body in Kakching underscores the deep ethnic divide in Manipur, where movement between Meitei-dominated valley areas and Kuki-Zo hill districts remains highly restricted amid the ongoing conflict that began in May 2023.
A Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in connection with the killing has demanded a transparent probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), swift arrests, and exemplary punishment for those responsible. Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla confirmed on January 22 that the case has been handed over to the NIA.
Police said a suo motu FIR was initially registered in Churachandpur, while a parallel case was lodged at Waikhong Police Station in Kakching based on information provided by the family. Investigations are ongoing, and security has been tightened in both districts to prevent further escalation.
Protests erupted in Kakching Khunou on January 22, with residents staging road blockades and sit-in demonstrations condemning the killing. Community leaders expressed outrage over what they described as a failure to protect civilians despite prior permissions and awareness of the inter-community marriage.
The killing has reignited tensions in Manipur, a state that has witnessed over 260 deaths and large-scale displacement since ethnic violence broke out in 2023, highlighting continuing challenges to civilian safety even under President’s Rule. Funeral arrangements are underway in Kakching Khunou as authorities have appealed for calm.
