A middle-aged Kuki tribal woman was shot dead and two other civilians went missing after suspected militants ambushed two motorcycles in Manipur's Kamjong district on Thursday evening, 15 October 2026, according to officials. The attack has drawn sharp condemnation from tribal organisations and renewed calls for a security crackdown in the insurgency-hit region.

What Happened

According to a police official citing local villagers, four civilians were travelling on two motorcycles toward Phaikoh to purchase essential commodities when they were ambushed at a stretch between Phaikoh and Molvailup. The woman, identified as Hatneimkim Haokip, died on the spot. Her husband managed to escape the attack unhurt. The two remaining civilians are still unaccounted for, with their whereabouts unknown as of the latest reports.

Search Operations Under Way

Security personnel, working alongside local villagers, have launched search operations to trace the two missing civilians. No further details on the scale or progress of the operation have been made available by authorities.

KIM Condemns Attack, Blames NSCN(I-M)

The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), a prominent tribal body, strongly condemned the killing. In a statement, KIM Secretary for Information and Publicity Janghaolun Haokip directly accused the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) — commonly known as NSCN(I-M) — of carrying out the attack. He alleged the outfit had repeatedly targeted defenceless civilians, 'particularly women and children,' describing the incident as a 'grave violation of humanitarian principles.'

Haokip added that the alleged attacks on vulnerable civilians were 'unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.' KIM also expressed condolences to the bereaved family and said it stood in solidarity with them.

Governments Held Accountable

KIM held both the Manipur state government and the Centre responsible for what it described as a collapse of law and order that had allowed insurgent groups to operate with impunity. The organisation accused authorities of 'indecision and failure to take decisive action,' demanding an immediate and comprehensive security operation to apprehend those responsible and trace the missing persons.

Notably, Manipur has witnessed prolonged ethnic tension and sporadic militant attacks since ethnic clashes erupted in May 2023. The Kamjong district, bordering Nagaland and Myanmar, has historically been a flashpoint for inter-group violence. This incident adds to a pattern of attacks on civilians in remote stretches that security forces have struggled to monitor.

Warning of Further Escalation

KIM warned that failure to deliver tangible results — bringing perpetrators to justice, locating the missing civilians, and ensuring civilian protection — 'could lead to public unrest and further escalation of tensions.' The organisation said 'mere assurances were no longer sufficient' and called for concrete, verifiable action from both state and central authorities.