Woman Killed, Two Injured as Gunmen Strike Family in Manipur's Tamenglong

A woman was killed and two members of her family were injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their home at Tollen village in Manipur's Tamenglong district in the early hours of the morning, in the latest outbreak of violence in the state.

According to preliminary accounts, the attackers struck at around 4 am at the village, which lies along National Highway-37. Nu Lhingzangai Singsit was fatally shot. Her husband, Seineh Singsit, was hit by bullets, and the couple's six-year-old son was also wounded. Two other children in the family are reported to have escaped unhurt.

Personnel of the Kaimai Assam Rifles reached the spot after the attack and moved the injured father and son towards Jiribam for urgent medical care.

Tollen, also spelt Tolen, is a small village in the Tamenglong West (Tousem) sub-division. Census-based district data from 2011 records a population of 262 people in 54 households. The village sits beside NH-37, close to settlements such as Kaimai and Oinamlong.

The shooting has renewed worries about the safety of civilians living along the NH-37 corridor, a key road link between Imphal and Jiribam.

The Kuki Youth Organisation (KYO) Women's Council condemned the killing in strong terms and called for an immediate, impartial and thorough investigation. It said those responsible must be identified and prosecuted on the basis of credible evidence and due process, and pressed for better intelligence gathering and preventive security measures to shield civilians.

The Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong and Noney (JTN) also condemned the attack and alleged that suspected Naga militants were behind it. That allegation has not been independently established. The body questioned how the attack could take place reportedly only a few hundred metres from a security force deployment, and sought clarity and accountability on the security arrangements in the area.

Kuki Inpi JTN demanded that the case be handed to the National Investigation Agency for an impartial and thorough probe, and asked for permanent deployment of adequate security personnel at Tollen. It issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the government to act and announced a 24-hour economic blockade as a mark of protest, warning that an indefinite total shutdown would follow if its demands were not met within the deadline.

The Kaimai Village Authority likewise condemned the attack, appealed for a thorough and impartial investigation, and urged both communities to show restraint. It called on community leaders and civil society organisations to reaffirm peace and understanding.

The incident occurred on Black Day, observed by the Kuki community to commemorate lives lost and suffering endured during the violent events of the 1990s.

The identity of the attackers and the circumstances that led to the shooting remain unclear. Further details, including the condition of the injured and the authorities' response, are awaited.