Two Naga villagers shot dead in Manipur's Senapati, six killed in two days
Synopsis
Manipur's hill districts are witnessing relentless targeted violence against Naga civilians — six killed in two days across Senapati and Kamjong, with at least 13 dead in September alone. Former CM Biren Singh's warning of 'more than 60 deaths since early this year' frames this as a sustained breakdown, not isolated incidents, raising urgent questions about law and order and cross-border militant activity.
Key Takeaways
Unidentified militants shot dead Rocky Mao and Kumar Poumai at Kalajan village, Senapati district , on 26 September 2026 .
Two others — Adani Manio, 33 , and Ashiho Sani, 49 — were injured and hospitalised.
Four Tangkhul Naga men were killed in Kamjong district just two days earlier, allegedly by militants from Myanmar .
At least 13 people have been killed in militant attacks across Manipur in September 2026 alone.
Biren Singh cited more than 60 deaths in the state since early 2026.
CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh and other leaders condemned the killings; no group has claimed responsibility.
Unidentified militants shot dead two Naga villagers and injured two others at Kalajan village in Manipur's Senapati district on Saturday, 26 September 2026, police officials said. The attack comes just two days after suspected militants killed four Naga men in the neighbouring Kamjong district, bringing the total killed in back-to-back strikes to six.
What Happened in Senapati
The deceased have been identified as Rocky Mao and Kumar Poumai, both residents of villages in the Naga-majority Senapati district. According to police, armed assailants entered the victims' homes and shot them while they were asleep. The injured — Adani Manio, 33, and Ashiho Sani, 49 — were shifted to a private hospital in Senapati district for medical treatment. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Senapati District Hospital for post-mortem examination.
The Kamjong Attack Two Days Earlier
On Friday, 25 September, the bodies of four men were recovered from an isolated location near the Myanmar border in remote Pilong village, approximately 34 km from the Kamjong district headquarters, following a prolonged search by police and local residents. The victims — all from the Tangkhul Naga community — were identified as Betterson Jajo, Vareishim Jajo, Phami Jajo, and Ningthem Kashak. Phami Jajo was the son of Vareishim Jajo. According to local residents, suspected militants from neighbouring Myanmar crossed into India and allegedly ambushed a group of five villagers on Thursday, 24 September; one person managed to escape and alert authorities.
Political Condemnation
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the killings on his Facebook account, writing: 'I strongly condemn the killing of two civilians and injuring two others by unidentified militants at Kalajan village in Senapati district today. The attack is a cowardly act of violence against innocent lives.' He conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, in a post on X, raised the toll in a broader context: 'More than 60 deaths since early this year, and the cycle of violence continues unchecked.' He added: 'Armed militants entered their home and shot them dead while they were asleep. These were civilians who deserved to live without fear. How long are we going to keep counting bodies instead of holding those responsible accountable and bringing the deteriorating law and order situation under control?' Several other political leaders also condemned the attacks.
Scale of September Violence
According to officials, at least 13 people have been killed in separate gun attacks allegedly carried out by suspected militants in September alone, across Tamenglong, Kangpokpi, Noney, and Kamjong districts — a pattern that critics argue reflects a deteriorating security situation in the state's hill districts. This is the latest in a sustained series of targeted killings of Naga community members that has gripped the region through 2026.
Security forces are continuing operations in the affected areas. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks as of the time of reporting.
Point of View
With former CM Biren Singh's '60 deaths' figure pointing to an accountability vacuum that political condemnations alone cannot fill. The alleged cross-border dimension, with militants reportedly entering from Myanmar, raises questions about whether state-level policing is sufficient or whether central security forces need a more active mandate. What is missing from the public conversation is a credible operational response: condolences are plentiful, arrests are not. Until the cycle of attacks is met with verifiable enforcement action, the death toll is likely to keep rising.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two Naga villagers killed in Senapati on 26 September 2026?
The two victims have been identified as Rocky Mao and Kumar Poumai, both residents of villages in Manipur's Senapati district. According to police, armed militants entered their homes and shot them while they were asleep.
What happened in Manipur's Kamjong district two days before the Senapati attack?
Four Tangkhul Naga men — Betterson Jajo, Vareishim Jajo, Phami Jajo, and Ningthem Kashak — were killed by suspected militants near the Myanmar border in Pilong village on 24–25 September 2026. According to local residents, the attackers allegedly crossed from Myanmar and ambushed a group of five villagers; one person escaped.
How many people have been killed in Manipur militant attacks in September 2026?
At least 13 people have been killed in separate gun attacks allegedly by suspected militants in September 2026 alone, across Tamenglong, Kangpokpi, Noney, and Kamjong districts, according to officials.
What did Manipur's Chief Minister say about the Senapati killings?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the attack on Facebook, calling it 'a cowardly act of violence against innocent lives' and conveying condolences to the bereaved families. He confirmed that the two injured victims had been hospitalised in Senapati.
What has former CM N. Biren Singh said about the continuing violence in Manipur?
In a post on X, former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh stated that 'more than 60 deaths since early this year' have occurred and called the law and order situation 'deteriorating'. He questioned why those responsible had not been held accountable and demanded action beyond counting casualties.
