The victims were reportedly working in a paddy field when armed men opened fire, with local residents later claiming that a retaliatory exchange of gunfire followed
BY PC Bureau
August 14, 2026: A fresh attack in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district has claimed one life and left three people critically injured, bringing renewed tension to an area that has remained volatile throughout the state’s prolonged ethnic conflict.
The incident was reported on Friday morning at Langka Naga village, located along the Kangpokpi-Tamenglong border. According to preliminary accounts, armed men opened fire in the area at around 8 am.
Wiriliangbou Chawang, 34,A a Naga farmer, was killed in the shooting after suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Three others — Kawidinang Abonmai, 55, Maliangjininang Abonmai, 52, and Namthiulungbou Primai, 50 — were injured and were reported to be in serious condition. Naga groups have blamed Kuki militants for the attacks.
A senior police officer confirmed the death and injuries, but details about the circumstances of the attack and the identity of the assailants remained unclear.
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Villagers targeted
Local residents said the victims were working in a paddy field when the firing began. The attackers were reportedly carrying sophisticated firearms.
Residents also claimed that members of an armed group from the Naga village retaliated by firing at the suspected attackers after the initial assault.
The competing accounts could not immediately be independently verified, and there was no immediate official confirmation identifying the group responsible for the attack.
Security personnel were rushed to the area following the incident to secure the village and assess the situation.
The injured victims may be moved to Imphal for advanced medical treatment, depending on their condition.
Kangpokpi remains volatile
Langka Naga is situated along the Imphal-Tamei Road in the sensitive Kangpokpi-Tamenglong border region, an area that has witnessed armed confrontations during Manipur’s continuing unrest.
Friday’s attack has once again highlighted the fragile security situation in Kangpokpi, where attempts to restore normal life have repeatedly been disrupted by fresh incidents of violence.
The shooting came only two days after another outbreak of violence in the district’s Champhai area. Around 10 houses and a church were allegedly set ablaze during a night-time attack, triggering fresh tension.
The Liangmai Naga Council (LNC), Manipur, condemned the latest incident and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible. The organisation also called for a time-bound probe and stronger security arrangements to protect residents.
Incident follows CM’s Kangpokpi visit
The latest violence comes shortly after Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited Kangpokpi on August 8 in an effort to strengthen confidence-building measures and restore normal movement.
During his visit, Singh announced that national highways would be reopened for unrestricted movement by people from all communities. He also announced the resumption of the Imphal-Dimapur bus service.
The measures were aimed at improving connectivity and easing restrictions that have remained in place amid the ethnic conflict.
The fresh shooting, however, underlines the challenges facing the administration as it attempts to restore stability in the state.
Manipur has been affected by prolonged ethnic violence since May 2023, resulting in large-scale displacement, loss of lives and deep divisions between communities.
The latest incident in Langka Naga is likely to prompt increased security deployment in the border belt and could complicate ongoing efforts to reopen transport routes and restore confidence among communities.
Authorities have yet to establish the precise circumstances of the attack or identify those responsible.
