The attack occurred around 4 a.m. in the remote Tollen settlement, where difficult terrain and limited medical access can complicate the evacuation of wounded civilians.
BY PC Bureau
September 13, 2026: A woman was killed and two members of her family were wounded when suspected NSCN(I-M) cadres attacked their home in Tollen village in Manipur’s Tamenglong district early Sunday, local sources said.
The attack took place at around 4 a.m. The deceased was identified as Lhingzangai. Her husband, Seineh, was shot and is undergoing treatment. Their three children were briefly unaccounted for after the attack but were later located.
The youngest son sustained a gunshot wound to his arm. A bullet was also lodged in his buttocks, according to local accounts.
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Villagers have alleged that cadres of the NSCN-IM and Naga Village Guards were behind the attack. There was, however, no immediate claim of responsibility from any group.
#Manipur #SahnitNi #KukiBlackDay
This morning, on the very day we observe Sahnit-ni, reports confirm a pre-dawn attack on Tollen Kuki village in Tamenglong by the same NSCN-IM elements. A mother has been killed. Our grief is doubled. We stand with the people of Tollen and call… pic.twitter.com/TuAyP1A2eo
— Pengpalep ( KUKI PARIVAR ) (@KimHaokip) September 13, 2026
Police and district authorities had not issued a detailed statement on the incident at the time of reporting.
Tollen, also spelled Tolen, is a remote settlement in the Tousem area of Tamenglong West. Like several hill villages in the district, it has limited road connectivity and little access to nearby medical facilities.
The distance and difficult terrain can make emergency evacuation particularly challenging, with seriously injured villagers sometimes having to be moved towards Tamenglong headquarters, Kangpokpi or Imphal, or across the Assam border.
The attack comes amid continuing tensions and sporadic violence in Tamenglong and along the Imphal-Tamenglong Road.
Both Kuki-Zo and Naga settlements have reported incidents of firing, arson and civilian casualties during 2026.
Community organisations on both sides have frequently accused rival armed groups, including NSCN-IM, factions of the Zeliangrong United Front, Naga Village Guards and Kuki armed groups operating either within or outside the Suspension of Operations framework.
In several cases, however, allegations have preceded formal identification of the perpetrators by the authorities.
The condition of Seineh and his wounded son, details of any police case and the extent of damage to homes or property were not immediately known. Further official confirmation is awaited.
