Two missing men found dead, tension grips Kangpokpi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal/Kpi, November 01 2026: The two missing Kuki youth were found dead today in an area east of NH-2, along SP Road, Senapati district.

Two Kuki youths identified as Paoginlal Hangshing (21) s/o Haokholet Hangshing and Tinginlun Chongloi (20) s/o Paominla Chongloi, both residents of Taphou Kuki village went missing from near their own house on October 28 .

Following their disappearance, search operations were launched by joint teams of Manipur Police, CRPF and Assam Rifles at different places.

In continuation of these operations, an extensive search operation was conducted today by a combined team of Manipur Police, CoBRA, CRPF, Assam Rifles and RAF at a place to the east of NH-2, along SP road, and they recovered two dead bodies.

Two missing men found dead, tension grips Kangpokpi

The two dead bodies have been identified as those of Paoginlal Hangshing (21) s/o Haokholet Hangshing and Tinginlun Chongloi (20) .

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen has strongly condemned the brutal killing of the two Kuki youngsters.

Saying that the heinous crime must be thoroughly investigated and all those responsible must be brought to justice without delay, Nemcha Kipgen has extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

She further appealed to all concerned not to allow the tragedy to trigger further violence and reiterated her earlier call for restraint amid the prevailing volatile situation.

The recovery of the two dead bodies has triggered widespread outrage in Kangpokpi, with enraged residents taking to the streets as the bodies were brought to the Kangpokpi District Hospital by the Superintendent of Police, Kangpokpi.

As protests intensified, the police shifted the bodies to the SP's office in Kangpokpi, where angry demonstrators continued their agitation.

Security personnel fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the protesting crowds amid mounting tensions.

As the confrontation escalated, security personnel resorted to baton charges and firing multiple rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

Several protesters sustained injuries in the confrontation and were subsequently taken to District Hospital, Kangpokpi.

Some Kangpokpi people alleged that the security personnel went beyond crowd control measures, accusing them of physically assaulting protesters and damaging several vehicles and residential window panes during the confrontation.

Agitators also blocked National Highway-2, while business establishments and private institutions across the district remained shut in observance of the total shutdown called by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) .

The situation took a further turn after CoTU announced that it would not claim the bodies of the two youths until the Government fulfilled its charter of demands, including the immediate removal of Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho.

CoTU had extended its total shutdown by another 24 hours on Saturday, hoping that Dikho would intervene with people in Senapati district to secure the safe release of the abducted youths.

Speaking to reporters, CoTU spokesperson Ng Lun Kipgen said the extension was made in good faith, expecting the Deputy Chief Minister to persuade his people in Senapati to ensure the safe release of the two Kuki-Zo youths.

"Unfortunately, their dead bodies were recovered this morning," he said.

Lun Kipgen said the committee had decided not to claim the bodies of Paoginlal Hangshing and Tinginlun Chongloi until all its demands were fulfilled by the Government.

He also appealed to the authorities to intervene and look into what he described as the unwarranted high-handedness of security personnel.

The five-point charter of demands include the immediate removal of Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho for allegedly failing to secure the safe release of the abducted youths; immediate rectification of police jurisdiction by transferring Taphou Kuki village from Senapati police jurisdiction to Kangpokpi; removal of the NSCN-IM's Huthrong Brigade from its Oklong Camp in Senapati district; immediate handing over of the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA); and immediate arrest of those involved in the abduction and killing.

CoTU has also announced that the ongoing total shutdown, which was scheduled to conclude at 5 pm today, is extended by another 24 hours in protest against the authorities' failure to secure the safe release of the two youths.

The situation remained tense in Kangpokpi till late Sunday night.