Chassad: Tensions have escalated in Kamjong district, Manipur, following the reported killing of Pi Domkhonei Touthang, a Kuki woman who was shot in Chassad on 9 October 2026 and reportedly died at 9:40 PM. The incident has triggered a fresh gunfight and burning of houses at Kamjong headquarters, plunging the entire district into a volatile situation. Security has been tightened and additional forces have been rushed to the area to prevent further escalation.
According to reports, Kuki civilians were assaulted and gunfire was opened during an incident involving personnel of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) and NSCN Eastern Flank. Villagers alleged that IRB and Police personnel stationed at Chassad, along with NSCN Eastern Flank cadres, assaulted innocent Kuki civilians and opened indiscriminate gunfire during a protest. Pi Domkhonei Touthang, wife of Pu Lallenmang Touthang and a mother of five children, reportedly succumbed to her injuries after being hit by a bullet. She died at around 9:40 PM on October 9, leaving behind her husband and five minor children.
Following the fatal shooting, reports indicate that members of the Kuki public set houses on fire at Kamjong headquarters. The arson came after news of the woman’s death spread, leading to widespread anger among the Kuki public. According to local sources, a gunfight also broke out between Kuki village volunteers and the combined forces of IRB, Police and NSCN-EF following the killing. The circumstances surrounding the house burnings and the gunfight and the events leading to the escalation require further investigation and official verification.
The incident has created fear and panic among residents of Chassad and Kamjong. Locals have demanded immediate removal of IRB and Police from Chassad and deployment of neutral central forces to ensure the safety of Kuki civilians. The family and villagers have termed the shooting as a targeted killing of an innocent Kuki woman and demanded strict action against the personnel involved. The situation at Kamjong headquarters remains highly tense at the time of filing this report.
Strong condemnation has come from various Kuki civil society organisations. The Kuki Human Rights Forum (KHRF) and other bodies have condemned the brutal killing of the mother of five and demanded a time-bound independent judicial inquiry into the incident, immediate arrest and suspension of the IRB & Police personnel involved, and action against the NSCN Eastern Flank cadres allegedly involved in assaulting civilians and opening fire. They have also demanded adequate compensation and justice for the family of Pi Domkhonei Touthang.
The Government of Manipur is urged to intervene immediately, investigate the killing of Pi Domkhonei Touthang and the subsequent violence including gunfight and burning of houses, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for all those responsible. The loss of civilian life and the destruction of property demand urgent attention from the authorities. An official statement from Manipur Police, IRB command, and Kamjong district administration regarding the killing, gunfight, and house burnings is still awaited.
