The incident at Kanglatongbi in Imphal West district has renewed concerns over identity-based vigilantism, with civilians increasingly targeted over names, community affiliations, and official documents.
BY PC Bureau
May 21, 2026: In a disturbing incident that highlights the continuing fragility of ethnic relations and civilian safety in violence-hit Manipur, a Nepali-origin man who legally adopted a Kuki identity after marriage was allegedly abducted, blindfolded, tied up, and brutally assaulted for several hours on May 19, 2026.
The incident reportedly took place in broad daylight at Kanglatongbi in Imphal West district, underscoring how ordinary civilians attempting to procure basic necessities remain vulnerable to identity-based vigilantism amid the state’s prolonged ethnic conflict.
According to reports by The Hills Journal, the victim was originally born as Ramesh Bhandari into a Nepali family. After marrying a Kuki woman, Nemlam Doungel, in 2012, he voluntarily embraced Christianity and legally changed his name to Thangtinlen Doungel. He is currently registered as an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) under the Saitu Sub-Division. His wife hails from Maphou Kuki Laikoching village in Kangpokpi district, while his original family roots trace back to the Nepali community in Koubru Laikha.
The couple settled in the wife’s village after marriage, and Bhandari formally updated all official records, including his Aadhaar Card, with his new name in 2016. Following the outbreak of the Kuki-Meitei conflict in 2023, the family was displaced multiple times, first taking shelter at N. Songlung before later moving to Gamnom Saparmeina. To survive amid the unrest, the couple reportedly works for a local water bottling firm supplying drinking water in Saparmeina and nearby areas. They also have a son studying in Class VI.
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The alleged assault began around 11:30 a.m. on May 19 when Thangtinlen Doungel travelled to Kanglatongbi Bazar Board to buy rice for his family. According to family members and the victim’s statement, a shopkeeper directed him to seek clearance from volunteers monitoring the movement of essential commodities toward the Kangpokpi side near Kanglatongbi Bridge. When the volunteers allegedly demanded his Aadhaar Card—which he had forgotten to carry—the situation escalated rapidly.
The victim alleged that the men searched his belongings and found vehicle documents carrying his Kuki name, Thangtinlen Doungel. He was then allegedly blindfolded, his hands tied behind his back, and taken to an unidentified location where he was repeatedly beaten. Despite his attempts to explain that he had been born into a Nepali family and had legally changed his identity after marriage and religious conversion, the assault reportedly continued.
He further alleged that he was shifted between three separate locations while blindfolded, preventing him from identifying where he was being held. The ordeal reportedly lasted until around 4:30 p.m., when members of the Gorkha community intervened and secured his release. He was later reunited with his wife and taken to a local hospital for treatment of multiple injuries.
According to the report, the victim’s family has alleged that the attackers included Liangmei Naga volunteers along with suspected members of Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei civil society group that has frequently figured in reports surrounding the ongoing conflict. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region following recent violence, including the killing of Kuki church leaders in an ambush earlier this month.
The case reflects the deepening atmosphere of mistrust and identity-based targeting that has emerged during Manipur’s prolonged ethnic unrest. In many instances since the outbreak of violence in May 2023, civilians have reportedly been profiled based on names, community affiliations, languages, or identity documents while travelling through contested areas.
Nepali-Origin IDP Married to Kuki Woman Abducted, Blindfolded and Brutally Assaulted in Broad Daylight in Manipur’s Imphal West
https://t.co/O3bKg7YTAo— The Hills Journal (@HillsJournal) May 20, 2026
Nemlam Doungel condemned the assault as an “inhuman act of brutality” against a displaced civilian struggling to support his family amid conflict. “My husband left home only to buy rice and returned covered in injuries,” she reportedly said. Members of the displaced Kuki-Zo community have also described the incident as a grave violation of human rights and a disturbing example of civilians being targeted while attempting to access essential supplies.
Manipur has remained deeply fractured since ethnic violence erupted between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in May 2023, with periodic spillover involving Naga groups as well. Thousands continue to live in relief camps or temporary settlements, while incidents of abduction, assault, illegal detention, and intimidation continue to surface despite the heavy deployment of security forces.
This case involving a Nepali-origin man integrated into a Kuki family illustrates the increasingly blurred and dangerous fault lines of the conflict, where even individuals with cross-community ties can become targets of suspicion and violence.
The victim’s family and community leaders have demanded accountability, protection for displaced civilians, and stronger security measures to ensure safe access to food and other essentials in sensitive areas.
