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A Meitei man living with his Kuki-Zo wife in Churachandpur was shot dead by unidentified armed men, with the killing captured on video and widely circulated.
A man from the Meitei community, who had been living with his wife, who is from the Kuki-Zo community, for the past month in a village in Manipur’s Kuki-Zo-majority Churachandpur district was shot dead on Wednesday evening — a killing that was recorded on video and circulated.
In the video, which surfaced late Wednesday night, a man can be seen sitting on the ground outdoors in the dark. The 1 minute 12 second video carries the text “No peace no popular”, a reference to attempts to restore a popular government in the state. While it does not have any audio, the man can be seen pleading with folded hands to some people who are not visible in the video, until two shots are fired at him. Then, he is shown laying motionless on the ground.
Churachandpur SP Gaurav Dogra confirmed that the incident captured in the video had taken place at around 7-7.30 pm on Wednesday, and confirmed that the identity of the man is Mayanglambam, originally from Kakching Khunou, located in Manipur’s Meitiei-majority valley. The SP said that the incident took place at a village called Nathjang, where the deceased had been living with his wife, Chingnu Haokip. The village is around a 30-minute drive from Churachandpur town.
“We have got in touch with his wife and found that he had been staying at the village for the past month. All the locals, including the village authorities were aware. He does not normally live in Manipur; he works and lives in Nepal. Then yesterday, some armed miscreants arrived at the village and killed him. We have not been able to pinpoint those responsible yet and no one has taken responsibility for it, either. The investigation is ongoing,” said the SP.
This killing comes during a period of relative calm in Manipur, nearly a year into President’s Rule in the state and amid discussions on the restoration of a popular government, which is referenced in the text added to the video.
President’s Rule in the state will complete one year on February 14, and there are ongoing discussions and efforts to build consensus on the formation of a popular government in the state.
In a meeting last week attended by representatives of Kuki-Zo insurgent groups which are signatories to the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreements with the government and in talks with the Centre, and by MLAs from the community and civil society organization, Kuki-Zo Council, a resolution was passed, setting conditions for the formation of a new popular government in the state. These include a written “political commitment” by the state and central governments on a separate Union Territory for Kuki-Zo-majority areas of the state, and finalising a settlement before the expiration of the regular tenure of the current Legislative Assembly, which ends in 2027.
Sukrita Baruah is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Guwahati. From this strategic hub, she provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of India's North East, a region characterized by its complex ethnic diversity, geopolitical significance, and unique developmental challenges. Expertise and Experience Ethnic & Social Dynamics: Deep-dive coverage of regional conflicts (such as the crisis in Manipur) and peace-building efforts. Border & Geopolitics: Tracking developments along India’s international borders and their impact on local communities. Governance & Policy: Reporting on state elections, tribal council decisions, and the implementation of central schemes in the North East. Specialized Education Background: Prior to her current role, Sukrita was a dedicated Education Correspondent for The Indian Express in Delhi. This experience provided her with a sharp analytical lens for: Policy Analysis: Evaluating the National Education Policy (NEP) and university-level reforms. Student Affairs: Covering high-stakes stories regarding campus politics, national entrance exams, and the challenges within the primary and secondary education sectors. ... Read More
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