Video clip of man shot dead goes viral sparking outrage and cry for justice

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 22 : In yet another act of terrorism, Kuki militants, suspected to be cadres of United Kuki National Army (UKNA), shot dead a Meitei civilian on camera in Churachandpur last night.
The victim, who can be seen pleading for his life with his hands folded in a video, was executed by the militants.
The video, which has no audio, includes a chilling message: "No peace, no Government."
According to reports, Mayanglambam Rishikanta (32), was abducted at gunpoint by armed Kuki militants from the residence of his fiancee at Tuibong and was shot dead by the militants in the hills of Natjang which falls under the jurisdiction of Henglep police station in Churachandpur district last night.
After the cold blooded murder, a video was circulated on social media, showing the victim sitting on the ground with his hands folded before he was shot in the head.
According to reliable sources, M Rishikanta, s/o Tombi of Kakching Khunou Uchal Makhong Leikai had been working in Nepal and was in a romantic relationship with Chingu Haokip, a resident of Tuibong, Churachandpur.
The deceased was given a Kuki Zo name Ginminthang.
It is also reported that the families of Rishikanta and Chingu had been in the process of arranging their marriage before the clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities broke out on May 3, 2023.
Sources said that Rishikanta returned to Manipur in mid-December and had been staying at his fiancee’s place since December 19, 2025.
However, on the evening of January 21, at around 6.30 pm, Rishikanta was abducted at gunpoint by around three to four armed Kuki militants, suspected to be members of the UKNA.
They took him and his fiancee in a four-wheeler to the hills of Natjang, within the jurisdiction of Henglep police station.
After a brutal assault, the sources said that Chingu was thrown out of the vehicle at an unknown location.
The militants then took Rishikanta further into the hills, where they shot him dead around 10 pm.
On receiving information about the incident, a combined team of Henglep police and Central forces launched a search for the body.
The remains were recovered today and were depo- sited at the mortuary of Churachandpur  District Headquarters for post-mortem examination.
Henglep police have registered a case in connection with the murder, but at the time of filing this report late in the evening, no report any arrest has come in.
Sources also reported that the body of Rishikanta is expected to be handed over to the Kakching district police by Churachandpur authorities later tonight.
Afterwards, it will be taken to the JNIMS morgue for further examination.
Citing an official, IANS reported that intelligence inputs indicate that UKNA consists of around 450 cadres and is armed with more than 300 sophisticated weapons, making it larger than any individual armed group currently under the SoO framework.
The outfit is said to have established camps both within Manipur and across the international border in Myanmar.
Following the viral circulation of the video showing the execution of Rishikanta, locals of Kakching Khunou Lamkhai gathered on the streets, blocking traffic and imosed a bandh along the Indo-Burma Sugnu Road by burning tyres and placing obstacles.
Family members of the deceased were reportedly unaware that Rishikanta had returned to Manipur and had been staying at his fiancee’s place until they received the news of his death.
In response to the brutal murder, a Joint Action Committee (JAC) was formed, and a meeting was held with local civil society organizations at Kakching Khunou Lamkhai.
During the meeting, the victim’s family expressed deep anguish over the incident and called for a fair, transparent, and time-bound investigation into the case.
The family also appealed to the public and civil society organisations to support them in their pursuit of justice.