At least four members of the Kuki community, including two women, were killed in separate suspected militant attacks across Manipur's Tamenglong and Noney districts on Sunday, 13 September 2026, according to police. The killings have drawn sharp condemnation from political leaders across party lines and reignited fears about the fragile security situation in the conflict-hit state.

How the Attacks Unfolded

In the first incident, suspected militants attacked the residence of a family at Tollen Kuki village under Kaimai Police Station in Tamenglong district. A woman identified as Lhingngai Singsit was killed at the scene. Her husband, Seineih Singsit, and their infant son sustained gunshot injuries. Seineih was rushed to a hospital in Silchar in neighbouring Assam but succumbed to his injuries en route, according to police. Security forces deployed to the village provided medical assistance to the injured infant.

In the second incident, armed militants allegedly opened fire at Longpi village under Nungba Police Station in Noney district, killing Julie Gangte and R. Gangte, police said. All four victims were members of the Kuki tribal community, officials confirmed.

Political Condemnation

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the killings and expressed deep anguish over the loss of innocent lives. 'Such cowardly acts of violence against innocent civilians are unacceptable and have no place in our society,' he said in a statement issued by his office. He offered condolences to the bereaved families and called for a speedy recovery for those injured.

Former Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader N. Biren Singh also condemned the Tollen attack, calling it 'deeply disturbing and heartbreaking.' In a post on X, Singh said: 'The tragic incident at Tollen Kuki Village, where Mrs Lhingjangai Singsit was killed, and her husband and young son sustained gunshot injuries, is deeply disturbing and heartbreaking. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved family, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.' He added that 'the safety and security of innocent civilians must remain our foremost concern.'

Several Kuki and Naga MLAs also issued separate condemnations. Naga Peoples' Front legislator Awangbou Newmai described the targeting of 'unarmed men, women and children' as a cowardly act with no place in a civilised society. The Kaimai Village Authority called the Tollen attack a 'deliberate and malicious attempt to create disharmony and division among communities' and urged authorities to conduct an impartial investigation and bring those responsible to justice.

Significance of the Date

The attacks coincided with 'Sahnit Ni', or 'Black Day', observed annually on 13 September by the Kuki community in Manipur to commemorate those killed during the Kuki-Naga conflict of the 1990s. The timing has deepened the anguish within the community and raised concerns about the intent behind the violence.

Broader Context: Manipur's Ongoing Ethnic Crisis

The killings come against the backdrop of a prolonged ethnic conflict between the non-tribal Meitei community and the hill-based Kuki tribal communities that has convulsed Manipur since May 2023. The clashes have claimed at least 306 lives, left 49 people missing, and displaced thousands across the state, according to official figures. Efforts to broker lasting peace have so far yielded limited progress, and incidents of targeted violence against civilians have persisted despite security force deployments.

With political leaders across factions demanding accountability and the community already in mourning on Black Day, the coming days will test the government's capacity to restore confidence in the valley and the hills alike.