Five villagers collecting firewood in the Hengbung area of Kangpokpi allegedly encountered armed men on October 20. One escaped and raised the alarm, leading to the recovery of the other four by the Assam Rifles.
BY PC Bureau
October 21: Four Kuki-Zo civilians who went missing after armed men allegedly attempted to waylay a group of firewood collectors in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district were found unharmed in a search operation by the Assam Rifles.
The incident took place around 9 am on October 20, when five residents of Hengbung and Taphou Kuki villages ventured into the forest in the upper reaches of Hengbung village to collect firewood. According to the account, they encountered armed men who allegedly tried to intercept them at gunpoint.
One of the five villagers managed to escape and alert others, while the remaining four went missing.
The Assam Rifles launched a search in the surrounding forest after receiving information about the incident. Following an operation lasting around three hours, the four civilians were located unharmed and handed over to their respective village authorities.
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The men were identified as Hemang Vaiphei, 58, of Hengbung village, and Minlal Chongloi, 45, Nampu Chongloi, 39, and Hethem Chongloi, 40, of Taphou Kuki village. The villager who escaped was identified as Lunjamang Kipgen, 37, of Hengbung.
The incident underscores the security concerns facing residents in Manipur’s hill districts, particularly those travelling through remote forest areas. The ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023 has left relations between communities deeply strained, while security-related incidents continue to be reported from different parts of the state.
Although Assam Rifles rescued all four missing civilians , the identities of the armed men and the circumstances behind their alleged attempt to intercept the group remain unclear.
