Manipur DGP visits Kangpokpi, Senapati in first hill district outreach
Synopsis
Manipur's newly transferred DGP Mukesh Singh made his first visit to the volatile hill districts of Kangpokpi and Senapati on 7 June, meeting Kuki and Naga civil society groups — even as 20 people from both communities remain missing after alleged abductions by armed groups since 13 May, and three church leaders killed in the same violence.
Key Takeaways
Manipur DGP Mukesh Singh made his first visit to Kangpokpi and Senapati hill districts on 7 June .
He met representatives of multiple Kuki and Naga civil society organisations and appealed for public cooperation with police.
20 individuals — six Naga and 14 Kuki — remain untraced after allegedly being abducted since 13 May .
At least 50 people were allegedly held hostage following violence on 13 May in which three church leaders were killed .
Around 30 people were released on 14–15 May ; joint search operations have been ongoing for nearly four weeks .
Singh was recently transferred to Manipur after serving as DGP of Ladakh since 15 January 2026 .
Manipur Director General of Police Mukesh Singh on Sunday, 7 June made his first official visit to the hill districts of Kangpokpi and Senapati, reaffirming that the law applies equally to all citizens and that the police will serve every community 'without fear or favour.' The outreach comes against the backdrop of a protracted ethnic crisis in which 20 individuals — six Naga and 14 Kuki — remain untraced after allegedly being abducted by armed groups since 13 May.
Purpose of the Visit
The DGP was accompanied by Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo, State Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order). During the visit, Singh was briefed by senior officers on the prevailing law and order situation, security arrangements, and key operational achievements in the region. He also reviewed the overall functioning and operational preparedness of district police forces.
Singh, an IPS officer of the 1996 batch of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre, was recently transferred to Manipur. He previously served as Director General of Police of Ladakh, a position he had assumed on 15 January 2026.
Civil Society Engagements
The DGP held discussions with district administration officials and Commanders of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), alongside representatives of multiple Kuki civil society organisations — including Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, Kuki Women Union (KWU), Kuki Students' Organisation Sadar Hills, Thadou Inpi Sadar Hills, Thadou Youth Association (TYA), and Thadou Women's Association (TWA).
Singh also met Naga civil society bodies, including the United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women Union (NWU), All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Peoples' Organisation (NPO), Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA), and Senapati District Women's Association (SDWA). He appealed to all communities to cooperate with the police in maintaining a safe and secure environment across the state.
Ongoing Crisis in the Hill Districts
The situation in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts remains tense. According to officials, at least 50 people from the Kuki and Naga communities were allegedly held hostage by armed groups following violent incidents on 13 May, in which three church leaders were killed and four others injured in Kangpokpi district. Around 30 individuals from both communities were released on 14 and 15 May following sustained efforts by authorities, community leaders, and civil society organisations.
Despite nearly four weeks of intensive joint search operations by Central and state security forces, the remaining 20 individuals are yet to be traced. The DGP's visit is widely seen as an attempt to rebuild trust with hill communities at a particularly fragile moment in the state's ongoing ethnic conflict.
What the Police Said
An official police statement described the visit as 'cordial and productive,' adding that it had further strengthened cooperation between the police, security forces, civil administration, and civil society organisations. The statement said the goal was to ensure 'lasting peace, stability and development' in the hill districts and the state as a whole.
With the missing persons still untraced and tensions unresolved, the DGP's engagement with civil society groups is likely to be the first of several such outreach efforts in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
But the optics of a 'cordial' visit sit uneasily alongside the fact that 20 people remain missing after nearly four weeks of joint search operations. The outreach to civil society is a positive signal, yet the Manipur crisis has repeatedly exposed the gap between police statements of impartiality and ground-level community experience. The real measure of Singh's tenure will be whether the missing persons are found and whether security forces are seen acting with equal accountability across ethnic lines — not just in official statements.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Manipur DGP Mukesh Singh visit Kangpokpi and Senapati?
DGP Mukesh Singh visited Kangpokpi and Senapati on 7 June to meet civil society organisations, security commanders, and district officials as part of an outreach exercise aimed at strengthening coordination between the police, security forces, and hill communities. The visit was his first to these districts since his transfer to Manipur.
Who are the 20 people still missing in Manipur's hill districts?
According to officials, 20 individuals — six from the Naga community and 14 from the Kuki community — remain untraced after allegedly being abducted by armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts since 13 May 2025. Intensive joint search operations by Central and state security forces have so far failed to locate them.
What triggered the hostage crisis in Kangpokpi and Senapati?
The crisis was triggered by violent incidents on 13 May in Kangpokpi district, in which three church leaders were killed and four others were injured. Following this, at least 50 people from Kuki and Naga communities were allegedly held hostage by armed groups. Around 30 were released on 14 and 15 May.
Who is Manipur DGP Mukesh Singh?
Mukesh Singh is an IPS officer of the 1996 batch of the AGMUT cadre who was recently transferred to Manipur. He previously served as Director General of Police of Ladakh, a position he assumed on 15 January 2026.
Which civil society groups did the Manipur DGP meet during the visit?
DGP Singh met representatives of several Kuki organisations including COTU, Kuki Inpi Manipur, Kuki Women Union, and Thadou Youth Association, as well as Naga bodies including the United Naga Council, Naga Women Union, and All Naga Students' Association Manipur, among others.
