Sit-In Protest Demands Release of Three Allegedly Apprehended Men in Kangpokpi

A sit-in protest has been staged to demand transparency regarding the alleged apprehension of three individuals from S. Phailengkot village on October 20, 2026, in connection with the terror incident at Khongbal Tangkhul Sunurok in Kangpokpi district.

The protesters said they had not received any information about the whereabouts or well-being of the three individuals. They also alleged that the investigating officer (IO) had not been cooperating and that they had not been informed about the cases registered against the individuals or the legal sections invoked against them.

The three individuals have been identified as Seilal Haokip, Lungunpao Kipgen alias Gugun, and Hemminthang Khongsai alias Minthang.

According to the protesters, Seilal Haokip is a civil society leader and chairman of CACCO, an organization whose stated objective is the resettlement of the Chingdai area. They described him as a prominent figure who has worked to bridge the gap between security forces and the public and has served as a mediator for reconciliation with neighbouring communities.

The protesters further maintained that Lungunpao Kipgen and Hemminthang Khongsai are innocent civilians whose objective, they claimed, was to protect their villages from further destruction.

Demanding transparency from the authorities, the protesters called for information about the three men's whereabouts, their well-being and the legal grounds for their alleged detention. They also demanded their unconditional release, asserting that branding internally displaced persons (IDPs) as criminals without clarity on the allegations would be an insult to the displaced community.

The protest also highlighted concerns over the lack of government assistance to people in the Chingdai area. According to the protesters, residents have yet to receive basic supplies, healthcare services or adequate security and have been compelled to arrange their essential needs on their own without government intervention.

The protesters urged the authorities to clarify the status of the three individuals, ensure transparency in the investigation and address the humanitarian concerns of people in the Chingdai area.