Four men from the Tangkhul Naga community were found shot dead in Manipur's Kamjong district on Friday, 25 September, after suspected militants allegedly crossed over from Myanmar and ambushed a group of five villagers the previous evening. Police recovered the bodies from an isolated location near Pilong village, approximately 34 km from the Kamjong district headquarters, following a prolonged search by security personnel and local residents.

What Happened at Pilong

The four victims were identified as Betterson Jajo, Vareishim Jajo, Phami Jajo, and Ningthem Kashak. Phami Jajo is the son of Vareishim Jajo, making the tragedy a double loss for one family. According to local residents, a group of five villagers had been keeping watch at the Pilong settlement when armed individuals allegedly crossed the Namya river from the Myanmar side and launched an attack on Thursday. One villager managed to escape and raised the alarm with local authorities, triggering the search operation. The bodies, bearing bullet injuries, were subsequently recovered and transported to Kamjong District Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

Who Is Being Blamed

The Naga People's Front (NPF) Manipur state President Awangbou Newmai alleged that cadres of the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) were responsible for the attack. The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), a prominent Naga community organisation, echoed this allegation, claiming that armed KNA-B cadres and other armed elements crossed into Indian territory before carrying out the assault. The TNL described this incident as the third reported case of cross-border violence against Naga villagers in Kamjong district along the India-Myanmar border. Police are investigating the incident and further details are awaited.

Government and Community Response

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh strongly condemned the killings and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. The Chief Minister's Office, in a social media post, stated: 'Such acts of violence have no place in our society and will not be tolerated.' Singh also prayed for strength and comfort for the affected families. NPF state President Newmai appealed to all communities to shun violence and coexist peacefully.

Border Security Under Scrutiny

The TNL levelled sharp criticism at the state government and border security forces, including the Assam Rifles, over what it described as inadequate protection for vulnerable communities along the International Border. The organisation said Naga civil society groups had repeatedly brought the issue to authorities and sought stronger preventive measures. This comes against the backdrop of a broader security challenge: five Manipur districts — Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong, and Ukhrul — share a 398 km unfenced International Border with Myanmar, leaving border settlements chronically exposed to cross-border infiltration. Notably, the absence of physical border fencing has been a long-standing concern raised by security analysts and community leaders alike.

What Comes Next

Authorities are expected to step up patrolling along the affected stretch of the India-Myanmar border following the incident. The TNL and other Naga civil society organisations are likely to intensify pressure on both the state government and Central security agencies for a concrete response. With this being the third such reported incident in Kamjong district, the killings risk hardening community sentiment and deepening the humanitarian anxieties already weighing on border villages in the region.