In another grim episode linked to Manipur’s prolonged ethnic unrest, a 38-year-old man belonging to the Meitei community was allegedly abducted by unidentified armed men in Churachandpur district and later shot dead. A disturbing video, believed to capture the moments just before his killing, has circulated widely on social media, intensifying public outrage and prompting the police to initiate a formal investigation into the incident.
The killing took place in Churachandpur, one of the districts most affected by the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, and came to official attention late on Wednesday night. The district’s Superintendent of Police said authorities became aware of the incident after the video surfaced online, showing the victim pleading desperately for his life before being shot at close range.
In the footage, the man can be seen sitting on a rough roadside in near darkness, with his hands folded as he repeatedly appeals to at least two armed men standing nearby. Despite his pleas, one of the assailants fires at him, killing him instantly, as blood is seen seeping from his body. The graphic nature of the video has caused widespread shock and anger.
Police have identified the victim as Mayanglambam Rishikanta, a 38-year-old resident of Kakching district. Officials said Rishikanta was married to a woman from the Kuki community in Churachandpur and had adopted a tribal name, Ginminthang. He had recently returned to Churachandpur from Nepal, where he was employed, and was reportedly on a short period of leave at the time of the incident.
According to officials, information was received at around 10.30 pm on Wednesday that Rishikanta had been kidnapped earlier in the evening by unknown armed individuals and was subsequently shot dead. The circumstances surrounding his abduction and killing are now under investigation.
Meitei civil society groups have alleged that Rishikanta was abducted along with his wife, who belongs to the Kuki community. They further claimed that his wife had sought prior permission from the Kuki National Organisation and local authorities in the Tuibuong area for her husband’s visit, given the prevailing security situation and his employment abroad.
Since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023, movement between Meitei- and Kuki-dominated areas has been severely restricted, with members of both communities largely avoiding each other’s localities. The state has remained deeply divided along ethnic lines, with more than 260 people killed and thousands displaced during the prolonged conflict.
According to PTI, the abductors are suspected to be linked to the United Kuki National Army, a militant outfit that is not a signatory to the Suspension of Operations agreement signed between the Manipur government and several Kuki-Zo armed groups. Police have not yet officially confirmed the involvement of any group and said investigations are ongoing.
