Electric lineman killed and dozens of homes torched in separate attacks in Manipur
A private electric lineman was shot dead in Tamenglong district, and hours later fire destroyed about 24 houses in two villages of Kangpokpi district.
In the early hours of Wednesday, a private electric lineman identified as Paojangam Chongloi was shot dead while working on a 33 kV power line in Lasan village of Tamenglong district. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. and w. Shortly after, at about 5 a.m., unidentified armed men attacked two neighboring villages—Makui Khuman and Makui Thanamba/Chamruioiu—in Kangpokpi district, setting fire to approximately 24 houses.
The villages, each with about 12 households, were left in ashes, forcing residents to seek refuge in Makui Khunjao, about 12 km away. Police indicated they were unable to reach the locations promptly and have requested the Kangpokpi police to conduct a spot investigation and pursue legal action. A local official from Wakotphai village filed a complaint naming the NSCN (Isaac Muivah faction) in connection with the lineman’s killing. The incidents underscore the continuing Kuki-Naga tensions that have displaced many people in the region.
Why it matters
The attacks highlight the persistent ethnic violence in Manipur, threatening civilian lives and displacing communities.
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