Total Shutdown Until Burial as Lasan Victim's Body Arrives in Manipur's Kangpokpi; Kuki Bodies Condemn Lasan Killings

A pall of grief descended over Kangpokpi district on Wednesday as the mortal remains of a Kuki farmer allegedly gunned down by suspected Naga militants in Tamenglong district were brought home under tight security, triggering a district-wide shutdown and fresh outrage among Kuki civil society organisations.

The body of Haokhogin Lhouvum, a resident of Lasan village in Tamenglong district, arrived at Kangpokpi District Hospital at around 1:45 a.m. after being transported through the Imphal–Tamenglong Road amid uncertainty and security concerns.

The team tasked with recovering the body was reportedly denied passage through Makui Liangmei village, compelling them to navigate a challenging alternate route before finally reaching Kangpokpi with the mortal remains.

Lhouvum was allegedly shot dead on Tuesday afternoon while working in a paddy field along with seven other villagers, including women, in what Kuki organisations described as a "cold-blooded and unprovoked attack" by armed militants suspected to be cadres of the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K.

The attack occurred at around 1 p.m. on June 9 while the group was engaged in cultivation activities, coinciding with the release of 14 Kuki-Zo hostages who had been held captive for nearly a month in neighbouring Senapati district.

According to a survivor, the assailants opened fire without warning using sophisticated weapons including a lathode bombs, at the farmers. Although the survivors narrowly escaped, Lhouvum succumbed to bullet injuries at the scene.

Two spent lathode bomb shells were later recovered and handed over to a police team from Tamei Police Station during the recovery of the body, the villagers said.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at the District Hospital premises to receive the deceased's mortal remains. The reception was led by leaders of the Kuki Inpi, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), various civil society organisations, and local bodies of Kangpokpi town.

Amid mounting anger over the killing, CoTU imposed a total shutdown across Kangpokpi district until the burial of the deceased. All business establishments, government and private offices, educational institutions and commercial activities remained closed, although vehicular movement was exempted.

The burial programme had not been finalised till the filing of this report, and the body was being kept at the District Hospital morgue.

The killing has sparked widespread condemnation from Kuki civil society organisations, which termed the incident a "barbaric act of terror against innocent civilians" and demanded immediate arrest of those responsible.

The latest killing comes barely days after the Loibol massacre, in which three villagers were killed, further intensifying fears over the deteriorating security situation in the hill districts.

Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the identity of the attackers or progress in the investigation.