The Naga MLAs demanded justice for the Leilon Vaiphei victims and sought action against Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen over alleged links between her husband and the KNF-P.
BY PC Bureau
September 7, 2026: All nine Naga legislators, including Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dokho, stayed away from the final sitting of the Assembly session on Monday, demanding justice in the killing of six Naga civilians allegedly abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village and seeking the removal or suspension of Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen pending completion of the investigation.
The boycott came after the legislators rejected the state Home Minister’s position on the case and objected to what they described as an attempt to rule out the involvement of certain persons while the investigation was still in progress.
The legislators have demanded that Kipgen be removed or suspended until the investigation establishes whether her husband, Semtinthang alias Thangboi Kipgen, has any connection with the case. Naga legislators have alleged that he is associated with the Kuki National Front-P (KNF-P) and have sought a thorough probe into the alleged connection.
Naga MLA Awangbow Newmai said the legislators could not participate in proceedings alongside their Deputy Chief Minister while questions over the case remained unresolved. He alleged that eyewitness accounts had pointed towards a KNF-P leader and claimed that the person was Kipgen’s husband, while stressing that the allegations required investigation and accountability.
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Six Naga civilians killed
The dispute stems from the May 13 abduction of 18 Naga civilians, including two pastors, from the Leilon Vaiphei area. Fourteen of those abducted were subsequently released, but six remained missing.
Their bodies were recovered on June 10, according to Naga organisations, after which the case became a major source of anger among Naga communities in Manipur. The United Naga Council and other Naga bodies have alleged involvement of KNF-P cadres and Leilon Vaiphei villagers and demanded arrests and prosecution of those responsible.
Naga organisations have also demanded that the KNF-P be declared a terrorist organisation, that the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement with Kuki armed groups be scrapped, and that Kipgen be removed from the state Cabinet because of her alleged marital connection with the KNF-P leadership.
The allegations have remained a politically sensitive issue, with Naga groups repeatedly accusing the government of failing to deliver justice to the victims and their families. A Naga forum has also sought a report from the National Investigation Agency and action against those found responsible.
Naga MLAs had earlier sought Centre’s intervention
The latest boycott follows earlier interventions by Naga legislators over alleged attacks on Naga civilians. Nine Naga MLAs had previously approached Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking action against Kuki leaders over alleged involvement in attacks and killings and raising concerns over the security of Naga-inhabited areas.
The issue has therefore moved beyond a single criminal investigation and become part of a wider political dispute over the role of armed groups, the SoO framework and the protection of civilians in conflict-affected parts of Manipur.
Monday’s boycott occurred on the final day of the eighth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, which began on September 2. The nine Naga legislators’ decision to stay away from the proceedings underscored the growing political pressure on the government over the Leilon Vaiphei killings.
