Statements from Naga organisations show a shift in narrative—from placing the incident in Sinakeithei to later acknowledging presence near Mullam—aligning more closely with official findings.
BY PC Bureau
April 25, 2026 — Official police records, physical evidence, and evolving statements from Naga organisations collectively indicate that the deadly gunfight of 24 April 2026 occurred inside or in the immediate vicinity of the Kuki village of Mullam, pointing to an armed confrontation affecting a civilian settlement.
According to the Manipur Police communiqué, a “heavy exchange of fire” took place in the Mullam village area under Litan Police Station, resulting in three fatalities. The deceased were identified as Paominlun Haolai (22) of Churachandpur district, Letlal Sitlhou (41) of Kangpokpi district, and Horshokmi Jamang (29) of Chatric Khullen village in Kamjong district.
Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) Version
According to the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) Working Committee, Horshokmi Jamang was killed in the early hours of 24 April during an alleged ambush by armed Kuki militants near Sinakeithei village in Ukhrul district.
TNL stated that Naga Village Guards were on patrol between Sirarakhong and Sinakeithei villages in response to what it described as ongoing disturbances and the movement of armed Kuki cadres operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. The organisation claimed that Jamang was “killed on the spot” near Sinakeithei and framed the incident as a defensive action, stating that he had “laid down his life defending his rightful land.”
TNZL Condolence Statement
A separate condolence message issued by the Tangkhul Naga Zingsho Longphang (TNZL) also places the incident near Sinakeithei village. The statement described Horshokmi Jamang as the first member of the Naga Village Guard to be “martyred while on duty,” and strongly condemned his killing.
TNZL stated that Jamang was killed “while carrying out a noble duty of defending our Motherland… near Sinakeithei village, Ukhrul District” on 24 April 2026, reinforcing the initial narrative that the घटना occurred in the Sinakeithei area.
Naga Village Guards (NVG) Version
In contrast, the Naga Village Guards (NVG) Central Command issued a clarification that subtly but significantly shifted the location of the incident.
The NVG rejected allegations that Tangkhul Naga volunteers had attacked Mullam village and stated that its personnel were on patrol between Sinakeithei and Sirarakhong, in an area described as being “near Mullam.” According to the NVG, the patrol was undertaken due to repeated attacks on Sinakeithei village and the presence of armed Kuki cadres operating under the SoO agreement.
The NVG stated that its personnel came under heavy fire during this patrol, resulting in the death of Horshokmi Jamang. It also confirmed that four other volunteers were seriously injured: Ramshang Kamodang (32), Horrei Khokyar (26), Shonshok Mahung (36), and Ramnganing Mahon (34). The statement maintained that the incident was a response to an attack rather than an offensive operation.
On 24.04.2026 in a heavy exchange of fire at Mullam village area under Litan-PS, Ukhrul district, three individuals sustained fatal bullet injuries. The deceased have been identified as:
i.Paominlun Haolai (22) of Haijang village, Singngat Sub-Division, Churachandpur district,…— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) April 24, 2026
Contradictions and Convergence
A comparison of the statements reveals a clear pattern. Both TNL and TNZL firmly locate the incident “near Sinakeithei village,” presenting it as an ambush within Naga-inhabited territory. However, the NVG later places its personnel “near Mullam,” effectively shifting the site of confrontation closer to the Kuki settlement.
This shift is significant because it aligns more closely with the Manipur Police version, which situates the exchange of fire within the Mullam village area. The movement in narrative—from Sinakeithei to “near Mullam”—indicates an evolution in how the incident location is being described.
Physical Evidence and Location Consistency
One of the Tangkhul men who came to attack Mulam Kuki village was injured and later airlifted to Imphal—but left behind a tooth in Mulam as silent evidence. Perhaps that abandoned tooth tells the real story better than the headlines ever will. pic.twitter.com/1KTDo1M6Ey
— Joseph K (@Joseph_Khurmi) April 24, 2026
Material evidence further supports the Mullam location. A tooth belonging to one of the injured Naga fighters was reportedly recovered at the site of the gunfire exchange inside Mullam village, and the same individual was later airlifted to Imphal for treatment. While early claims suggested that Jamang’s body was recovered near Sinakeithei, police records place his death within the Mullam encounter, consistent with the recovery of the two Kuki victims near Mullam and the NVG’s admitted presence in the area.
Mullam and Sinakeithei villages are separated by approximately 4–5 km of hilly terrain, making early ambiguity possible but reinforcing the importance of the later corrections in location.
Mullam Village Account
According to a statement issued by the Mullam Village Authority, Mullam village came under an armed attack in the early hours of April 24. The authority alleged that Tangkhul militants were responsible. A gunshot was reportedly heard near the village around 1:00 AM, followed by heavy firing at approximately 5:30 AM. The incident was also accompanied by reports of houses being set on fire.
The Mullam Village Authority described the incident as an “unprovoked and premeditated assault” and cited earlier tensions, including reported firing incidents on April 19 and April 21.
Demography and Pattern of Violence
An analytical reading of the situation in Ukhrul district must begin with its demographic structure. The district is overwhelmingly inhabited by Tangkhul Naga and other Naga groups, while Kuki-Zo communities constitute a small minority—around five percent or less of the population. In such a context, the capacity for sustained, large-scale offensive operations by a numerically small and geographically dispersed group is inherently limited, though localized clashes remain possible.
At the same time, recent months have seen multiple reported incidents affecting Kuki settlements across the Ukhrul–Kamjong region. These include the killing of two Kuki civilians on 11 March 2026, firing incidents in the foothill belt on 24 March, alleged attacks on villages such as Thawai, and earlier arson incidents that reportedly destroyed dozens of houses and displaced residents. The events of 24 April near Mullam appear to fit within this broader pattern of recurring violence affecting minority settlements.
Taken together, the convergence of official police records, physical evidence within Mullam, and the evolution of Naga organisations’ own statements—from placing the incident near Sinakeithei to acknowledging presence “near Mullam”—strongly indicates that the confrontation occurred in or around Mullam village. This, combined with the demographic context and reported pattern of recent incidents, suggests that the Kuki village of Mullam was the central site of the 24 April 2026 violence.
