The killing of Hoikholhing, wife of the Langchingmanbi village chief, has sparked widespread outrage in Manipur’s hill districts. As police cite crossfire during a security operation, Kuki civil society groups reject the claim, demanding accountability and linking the tragedy to administrative decisions that jeopardized buffer zone integrity.
BY PC Bureau
Tensions have surged in Manipur after a Kuki-Zo Village Chieftess Hoikholhing Haoki, was killed during an alleged exchange of fire between security forces and unidentified gunmen on June 19. The Kuki-Zo community has rejected the Manipur Police’s version of events and is demanding an independent inquiry into what many are calling a targeted killing.
Manipur Police Account
According to an official police statement, the incident was triggered when Ningthoujam Biren Singh, a Meitei farmer from Phubala Awang Maning Leikai in Bishnupur district, was shot in the arm by unidentified assailants around 3 PM while working in his paddy field. He was rushed to the District Hospital in Bishnupur and later referred to RIMS, Imphal, where his condition is reportedly stable.
Incident Report: Shooting at Phubala and Subsequent Exchange of Fire
Today, at approximately 3:00 PM, one Ningthoujam Biren Singh, a cultivator from Phubala Awang Maning Leikai, was shot in his left arm by an unknown armed miscreant while working in his paddy field at Phubala…
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) June 19, 2025
In retaliation, security forces launched a search operation across Langchingmanbi, Heichanglok, and western Phubala. During the operation, police claim they came under fire from unidentified armed miscreants. In the ensuing crossfire, Mrs. Hoikholhing was fatally shot. Her body has been transferred to the Churachandpur District Hospital for legal formalities.
Police have filed cases and said further investigations are ongoing, adding that security arrangements for farmers will be reviewed to prevent recurrence.
READ: Kuki-Zo Leadership Reviews Peace Talks, Discusses Camp Relocation
Kuki-Zo Rejection and Civil Society Outrage
However, prominent Kuki-Zo organizations have expressed deep skepticism about the police narrative. The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights (KOHUR), Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR), Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), and Young Kuki have all condemned the killing. The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Churachandpur has now joined the chorus, directly blaming the state administration for the death.
In a late-night statement on June 19, the KSO Churachandpur squarely held the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Bishnupur responsible, calling the officer’s decision to allow wetland cultivation up to 300 meters from the upper canal “ill-advised and reckless.” The KSO claimed this encroached dangerously into buffer zones meant to protect vulnerable Kuki settlements.
Manipur : The Meitei police @manipur_police ‘exchange fire’ narrative crumbles under scrutiny as the tragic loss of a Kuki woman’s life lays bare the catastrophic consequences of their actions, fueling outrage and demands for justice and transparency. @dgupta_moushumi @vijaita https://t.co/j8jCJYFbBr pic.twitter.com/myXjJOMh3m
— Mary Khongsai Kuki (@Khongsai_Mary_) June 19, 2025
“This decision, taken in the name of administrative convenience, blatantly disregards volatile ground realities,” the statement read. It added that the presence of a Meitei DC in such a sensitive zone is “unacceptable” and in contrast to other conflict-prone districts like Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal, where neutral officers are posted.
Calling the incident a “damning indictment” of administrative failure, the KSO demanded the DC be held accountable and announced full support for the indefinite shutdown called by the ITLF. Essential services, however, would be exempted.
Sequence of Events
The crisis began when Ningthoujam Biren, a Meitei farmer, was shot at while tending his field in Phubala. “I was working in the fields when five rounds were fired,” he told officials. Security forces immediately launched search operations across adjacent areas. During this operation, according to police, they were ambushed and returned fire. Hoikholhing was found dead shortly after.
The killing has provoked widespread grief and fury among the Kuki-Zo community. Organizations like Young Kuki and the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum, Delhi & NCR have issued strong statements of condemnation. They demand:
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The immediate arrest of those responsible,
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Strict enforcement of buffer zones,
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Judicial or independent inquiry into the killing and broader buffer zone violations, and
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Deployment of neutral armed forces.
Describing the act as “heinous” and “despicable,” both groups warned that failure to act could lead to further instability unless a Separate Administration for the Kuki people is implemented.
“The targeting of Kuki-Zo women is a cowardly attempt to break the moral spine of our people,” said the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum. “We will speak, write, and protest until justice is served—not just for Pi Hoikholhing, but for all the Kuki-Zo women whose lives have been cut short by violence and impunity.”
