Rongmei Naga man killed in Kuki attack

Correspondent/OSR
NONEY/IMPHAL, Jun 8: A 57-year old Rongmei Naga villager was killed and two others sustained injuries in an attack by Kuki militants in a jungle located between Pongringlong and Pondaijang, Kangpokpi district under New Keithelmanbi police station this morning.
A group of Rongmei villagers went to repair a water supply pipeline damaged by Kuki militants and to collect firewood from a jungle located in between Pongring- long and Pondaijang (Rongmei Naga villages) when Kuki militants wielding sophisticated weapons opened indiscriminate firing toward the villagers at around 8 am, sources said.
The Rongmei Naga villagers immediately fled from the spot and took shelter in a safe area but one Chunjanglung Panmei was found missing.
Soon after the Kuki militants ceased their attack, Naga village guards and villagers of Pongringlong and Pondaijang launched a manhunt for Chunjanglung Panmei before he was found dead with bullet injuries on the head and the right leg.  
The injured persons have been identified as Jangthui-lung Gangmei (45), s/o late Kuringam Gangmei of Charoi Pandongba Part-I and Gaichuanlung Daimei (26), s/o Guangchalin Dai-mei of Charoi Pandongba Part-I
The injured were reportedly evacuated for medical treatment.
Following the incident, womenfolk and members of the Zeliangrong community from the Longmai area staged a protest agitation at Charoi Pandongba Bazar along NH-37 under New Keithelmanbi Police Station, condemning the attack on civilians.
Protesters raised slogans such as "We want justice," "Stop killing innocent civilians," and "Condemn Kuki terrorist activities."
The demonstrators demanded immediate action against those responsible for the attack and called for adequate protection of civilians in the area.
Addressing media persons during the protest, a woman leader questioned why the village water supply line had allegedly been damaged and why civilians repairing the essential public utility were targeted.
She urged both the State and Central Governments to take strong and immediate measures to ensure the safety and security of innocent civilians and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The incident has triggered widespread concern among residents, with local organizations and community leaders demanding a thorough investigation and stringent action against those involved.
The deceased was picked up by a New Keithelmanbi Police team led by Addl SP Samir and volunteers of the Longmai area.
The dead body has been taken to Imphal for postmortem.
The United Naga Council (UNC), Zeliangrong Union (ZU) and Joint Tribes Council Manipur  (JTCM) have strongly condemned the brutal and cold-blooded killing of Chunjanglung Panmei s/o Kamuga Panmei of Pong-ringlong (Charoipan- dongba) village under Gamphazol sub-division, Kangpokpi district by Kuki militants.
The UNC and the ZU have urged the State Government and the Govern- ment of India to immediately conduct a thorough investigation, identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice without delay.
The authorities must take effective measures to ensure the safety and security of innocent civilians in vulnerable and conflict-affected areas and also to prevent the recurrence of such tragic incidents, said UNC.
The union warned that continued inaction against such violence could have serious consequences for peace, stability and inter-community relations in the region.
The Zeliangrong Union and the Pongringlong Youth Club have extended condolences to the bereaved family.
The attack, according to eyewitnesses, was tactically assisted by security forces, the JTCM alleged in a statement.
The Central forces are supposed to be neutral and guardians of the general public but they have done the opposite and turned against civilians, it said. The JTCM said that Naga farmers were attacked by KNF(P) militants at Pongringlong on May 22, 2026.
Pongringlong village came under attack from the Kuki militants again on June 5, 2026, it added.
The Coordination Committee Longmai Area has also vehemently condemned that attack at Pongringlong Part 1 Naga village by Kuki militants under SoO agreement which killed Chunjanglung Panmei.
The JTCM as well as the Coordination Committee Longmai Area have urged law enforcement agencies to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice and also to remove all the SoO camps from the region. The committee further expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.    
The Pongringlong (Charoipandongba) Village Authority too has strongly condemned the killing of Chunjanglung Panmei by Kuki militants.
According to a press release issued by the village authority, Chunjanglung Panmei was inspecting and attempting to restore the village water pipeline after it was disrupted by Kuki militants when he was shot fatally by Kuki militants.
The village authority has urged the State Government and law enforcement agencies to conduct an impartial investigation, ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and take up effective measures to avert recurrence. It has also extended condolences to the bereaved family. It is said that Chunjanglung Panmei was an executive member of the Pongringlong VA.