A Naga Village Guard member was killed and five others, including two CRPF CoBRA personnel, were injured in an exchange of fire during a security operation in Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday.
BY PC Bureau
July 29, 2026: One member of a Naga Village Guard (NVG) unit was killed and five others, including two personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) CoBRA unit, were injured during an exchange of fire in Bitiang village under the Tupul subdivision of Noney district early Wednesday.
The gunfight broke out during a security operation at what police described as a suspected NVG training camp. Search operations continued through the day, with heavy reinforcements deployed in the area amid disrupted communications and rising tensions.
The deceased was identified as Lanbilung Riamei, 22, son of Kadirang Riamei and a resident of Longmai (Noney) Bazar. He succumbed to his injuries following the encounter. Three other NVG members sustained bullet injuries, though their identities have not yet been officially released.
Two CoBRA personnel—Head Constable Radheshyam and Constable (General Duty) Jitendra Kumar—also suffered minor injuries. Officials said all the injured are expected to be shifted to Imphal for treatment.
According to police and local sources, personnel of the CRPF’s elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) launched an operation at around 6 a.m. after receiving information about an alleged NVG training camp in Bitiang village.
🚨 Manipur Update:
Security forces launched an early-morning operation at around 6:00 AM today against an alleged illegal Naga Volunteer Group (NVG) training camp in Bitiang, Noney district.
According to reports, heavy gunfire erupted after security personnel came under fire… pic.twitter.com/ekCfSvDG9Z
— GFN (@GFNIND) July 29, 2026
An exchange of fire followed shortly after the forces reached the site. While local community leaders alleged that the village guards were ambushed while protecting their villages and ancestral land, security officials maintained that the personnel came under fire during a raid on what they described as an illegal training camp.
Authorities have yet to issue a detailed official account, and the exact sequence of events leading to the firing remains unclear.
Mobile and internet connectivity in the Bitiang-Tupul area was reportedly disrupted after the operation, while access to the area remained restricted because of the heavy deployment of security forces. Local residents, including groups of women, reportedly attempted to block the movement of additional security personnel towards the village. Members of the Rongmei Luh Phwam were also prevented from reaching the site, according to local reports.
The Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council (JTC), Manipur, representing the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme (Zeliangrong) communities, strongly condemned the operation.
In a statement, the JTC alleged that the CoBRA unit had acted “in collusion with ZUF-J”, referring to a faction of the Zeliangrong United Front, and accused the security forces of targeting Naga volunteers. The allegation has not been independently verified, and no official response has been issued by the CRPF or the government.
The council announced an immediate and indefinite emergency shutdown across Zeliangrong-inhabited areas of Noney district. The shutdown covers National Highways, railway services and major infrastructure projects, while exempting essential services such as healthcare, educational institutions, water supply, electricity and telecommunications.
READ: Manipur: Kuki Women’s Body Moves SC to End Highway Blockade
The JTC linked Wednesday’s incident to the abduction and subsequent killing of six Naga civilians, including two pastors, from Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district in May this year. It alleged that those responsible had not been brought to justice and demanded that the Centre arrest the perpetrators, halt what it described as hostile operations against Naga villages, and ensure justice for the victims. The shutdown, it said, will continue until these demands are addressed.
Naga Village Guards are community-based volunteer groups operating in several hill districts of Manipur, where they say they protect villages amid prolonged ethnic tensions and insurgent activity. The CRPF’s CoBRA battalions specialise in counter-insurgency and jungle warfare operations.
The latest incident underscores the fragile security situation in Manipur’s hill districts, where longstanding disputes over territory, security arrangements and ethnic tensions continue to fuel periodic violence.
As of Wednesday evening, authorities had not disclosed whether any weapons or other materials were recovered during the operation. Search operations remain underway, and officials said further details would be released after the completion of the investigation.
