4 killed, 3 missing in militant attack, communal clashes in Manipur
Synopsis
In one of Manipur's bloodiest single days in recent weeks, suspected militants ambushed civilians collecting firewood near Nongshum, killing three; communal clashes in Thoubal killed a fourth man; and over 25 houses were burned in Kamjong — all within 24 hours, with three people still missing.
Key Takeaways
Three people — Arubam Ronil, 55 , Lairenlakpam Inaobi, 44 , and Kh.
Sushil, 32 — were killed in a militant ambush on firewood collectors near Nongshum village , Imphal East , on 19 October 2026 .
Three people remain missing after the Imphal East attack; security forces have launched a search operation.
A fourth person, Laishram Rakesh , died after being shot during communal clashes at Khangabok village , Thoubal district , on Sunday night .
Prohibitory orders were imposed in Khangabok and Sangaiyumpham under Section 163 of the BNSS from 11 pm Sunday .
More than 25 houses were burned in Kamjong district over 24 hours , targeting both Naga and Kuki inhabited areas along the India-Myanmar border .
Additional state and central security forces have been deployed across all three affected districts.
Four people were killed, several others injured, and three reported missing in Manipur on Monday, 19 October 2026, as separate incidents of militant violence and communal clashes struck Imphal East and Thoubal districts, police confirmed. The bloodshed underscores the continued fragility of law and order in the northeastern state, which has remained on edge amid prolonged ethnic tensions.
Militant Attack on Firewood Collectors in Imphal East
Around 10 people had ventured into hilly forested areas near Nongshum village in Imphal East on Monday morning to collect firewood when suspected militants ambushed them. Two people were shot dead on the spot; two others sustained injuries. A third victim, who was rushed to a private hospital in Imphal, later succumbed to his wounds.
The three deceased were identified as Arubam Ronil, 55, Lairenlakpam Inaobi, 44, and Kh. Sushil, 32 — all residents of Nongshum. Three more people remain missing following the attack. Efforts were under way to retrieve the bodies, while additional security forces were rushed to the area and launched a search operation to locate the missing persons and apprehend the attackers.
Notably, the targeting of civilians engaged in everyday activities such as firewood collection reflects a pattern of indiscriminate violence that has marked the conflict in Manipur's hill and valley interface zones.
Communal Clashes Rock Thoubal District
In a separate incident, one person was killed and several others injured in communal clashes at Khangabok village, under Thoubal police station, approximately 25 km south of Imphal. The violence erupted on Sunday night after a group of people allegedly pelted stones at a ground where a music concert was being held.
The stone-pelting quickly escalated into clashes between members of two communities across Khangabok and the neighbouring village of Sangaiyumpham. Several houses and vehicles were set on fire during the unrest. Amid the chaos, unidentified individuals opened fire, striking a person identified as Laishram Rakesh in the head. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Several others sustained minor cut injuries from stone-pelting and were hospitalised for treatment. Additional state and central security forces were deployed to the affected villages. The situation was reported to be under control by Monday morning.
Prohibitory Orders Imposed Under BNSS
Following the Thoubal violence, the Thoubal District Magistrate issued prohibitory orders on Sunday night under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), directing residents of Khangabok and Sangaiyumpham not to leave their homes from 11 pm. The order cited the likelihood of a breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity, and an imminent threat to human life and property due to the alleged activities of anti-social elements. The order did not specify when the restrictions would be lifted.
Over 25 Houses Burned in Kamjong District
This comes amid fresh arson attacks in Kamjong district, where more than 25 houses were set ablaze during the past 24 hours, with suspected militants targeting areas inhabited by both Naga and Kuki communities. Civilians were forced to flee their homes and take shelter in forests and a nearby security camp.
At least 14 abandoned houses belonging to the Naga community were set on fire by unidentified attackers at Pilong and Skipe villages along the India-Myanmar border on Sunday. The houses had already been abandoned following earlier attacks on Naga-inhabited villages. Additional security forces were deployed after these incidents.
All three incidents together mark one of the most violent stretches of a single day in Manipur in recent weeks. Security agencies are expected to step up area-domination exercises as ground-level tensions remain high across multiple districts.
Point of View
Communal clashes, and arson across three separate districts in a single day points to a security environment in Manipur that is deteriorating faster than official deployments can contain. The targeting of ordinary civilians collecting firewood — arguably the most defenceless category of victim — signals that armed groups are deliberately broadening their target profile to maximise terror. What is absent from official statements so far is any attribution: neither the identity of the militant group behind the Nongshum ambush nor the communities involved in the Thoubal clash have been named, a deliberate omission that makes accountability harder and community tensions easier to exploit. Manipur has now seen recurring cycles of arson, displacement, and ambush since mid-2023; without a credible political resolution to the underlying ethnic dispute, each 'situation under control' announcement risks being a temporary pause rather than a turning point.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Manipur's Imphal East on 19 October 2026?
Suspected militants ambushed a group of about 10 civilians collecting firewood near Nongshum village in Imphal East, killing three people and injuring two others. Three more people from the group are reported missing, and security forces have launched a search operation.
Who were the victims of the Nongshum firewood collector attack?
The three deceased were identified as Arubam Ronil (55), Lairenlakpam Inaobi (44), and Kh. Sushil (32), all residents of Nongshum village. Two were killed on the spot; the third succumbed to injuries at a private hospital in Imphal.
What triggered the communal clashes in Thoubal district?
The violence in Khangabok village, about 25 km south of Imphal, reportedly began on Sunday night when a group pelted stones at a ground where a music concert was being held. It escalated into clashes between two communities, with houses and vehicles set on fire; one person, Laishram Rakesh, was shot and killed during the unrest.
What prohibitory orders have been imposed in Thoubal?
The Thoubal District Magistrate issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) on Sunday night, directing residents of Khangabok and Sangaiyumpham not to leave their homes from 11 pm. The order cited the risk of breach of peace and imminent threat to life and property; no end date was specified.
What is happening in Manipur's Kamjong district?
More than 25 houses were set ablaze in Kamjong district over 24 hours, with suspected militants targeting areas inhabited by both Naga and Kuki communities along the India-Myanmar border. At least 14 abandoned Naga-community houses at Pilong and Skipe villages were burned, forcing civilians to flee to forests and a nearby security camp.
