The killing of a Kuki electrician in Lasan has heightened concerns over repeated violence along Manipur’s IT Road, with the KCAC alleging that civilian settlements remain vulnerable amid restricted movement and disrupted supplies.
BY PC Bureau
September 23: A 36-year-old electrician was killed while repairing an electricity line in Lasan village along Manipur’s violence-hit Imphal-Tamenglong (IT) Road, according to the Kuki Civic Action Committee (KCAC), which has called for an independent and time-bound investigation into the killing.
The victim, Paojangam Chongloi, an electrical lineman from Wakotphai village, was reportedly on duty in Lasan when he came under attack and was killed, the KCAC said in a statement.
The latest killing comes amid a series of violent incidents reported along the IT Road in Kangpokpi district, including attacks affecting Lasan, Govajang and N. Teikhang, where civilians have been targeted in recent weeks. Independent reports have confirmed repeated episodes of violence along the corridor, although the identities and affiliations of alleged attackers have varied from incident to incident and remain disputed in several cases.
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The KCAC condemned the killing and said Kuki civilians living along the IT Road were increasingly exposed to armed violence while movement, supplies and access to essential services remained severely restricted.
The organisation also alleged that affected communities had developed a perception that Naga armed groups were able to attack Kuki civilian settlements with impunity. It called on the authorities to ensure that no armed group, regardless of its identity, political affiliation or ceasefire status, was above the law.
The KCAC demanded an independent, impartial and time-bound probe into Chongloi’s killing and previous attacks on civilians, followed by the identification, arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
It also called for action against any Naga armed groups operating under ceasefire arrangements if they were found to have attacked civilians.
Lasan, Songpibung Kuki Villages Come Under Heavy Attack by Kacha-Naga NSCN-IM ZUF-K
23 Sep 2026: Lasan and Songpibung Kuki villages along the IT Road in Kangpokpi district came under heavy attack in the early hours of Wednesday, with an electric lineman losing his life. pic.twitter.com/uvvd7Ms6rz
— KUKI HILLS (@Nampi_Romeokuki) September 23, 2026
Beyond security measures, the KCAC urged the Centre and the Manipur government to ensure the uninterrupted movement of food, medicines and other essential commodities to settlements along the IT Road.
It sought reliable emergency medical and evacuation arrangements for civilians cut off by insecurity and road restrictions, and urged authorities to take immediate steps to restore conditions in which residents could travel, work and access essential services without fear.
“The lives of ordinary civilians must not become collateral damage” in competing political and territorial claims by armed groups, the KCAC said, urging authorities to act before the situation along the IT Road deteriorates further.
The latest incident follows a series of deadly confrontations along the corridor. On August 27, four Naga civilians were killed in an ambush on the IT Road, according to officials, while three Kuki civilians, including two women, were killed in an attack on N. Teikhang on August 31. The two communities subsequently reported further attacks on villages along the same corridor.
