Overview
- The pre-dawn assault on Loibol Khullen in Kangpokpi on Friday killed three Kuki civilians identified as Letkhongam Haokip, his wife Tinmary Haokip, and Jangminlal Haokip and gutted seven houses.
- Kuki Inpi Manipur and local student groups accused the NSCN-IM and factions of the Zeliangrong United Front of carrying out the attack, and the named groups had not responded at the time of reporting.
- Manipur police together with central security units have launched combing operations in the area and state leaders ordered intensified patrols and investigations to apprehend those responsible.
- A video circulating online that appears to show armed assailants has not been independently verified and security sources say they are examining the footage as part of the probe.
- The attack adds to a multi-year ethnic crisis that began in May 2023, a conflict that has left hundreds dead and tens of thousands displaced and which raises the risk of further retaliatory violence and disruption to ongoing hostage-related inquiries.