District-wide shutdown called until burial of Haokhogin Lhouvum, killed in Tamenglong paddy field; civil bodies decry civilian targeting amid ongoing tensions
Edited by St. Ginth Haokip, On June 10, 2026
Kangpokpi district observed a total shutdown Wednesday after the body of Haokhogin Lhouvum, a farmer from Lasan village, was brought to the District Hospital at 1:45 a.m. under heavy security. Markets, offices, and schools remained closed, though vehicle movement was permitted.
Lhouvum was killed Tuesday afternoon while working with seven other villagers in a paddy field in Tamenglong district. Survivors told locals the group came under sudden gunfire and lathode bomb fire. Lhouvum died on the spot; others escaped. Two spent lathode shells were later handed to Tamei Police, villagers said.
The recovery team transporting the body reportedly faced obstruction at Makui Liangmei village and had to take an alternate route via the Imphal–Tamenglong Road to reach Kangpokpi. Hundreds of mourners, including leaders from Kuki Inpi, the Committee on Tribal Unity, and local CSOs, gathered at the hospital to receive the remains.
CoTU declared the shutdown across Kangpokpi until burial, calling it a response to what it termed an “unprovoked attack on civilians.” The body remained in the District Hospital morgue as burial plans were not finalised at the time of filing.
Kuki civil society groups condemned the killing and urged authorities to arrest those responsible. They linked the incident to a pattern of violence against villagers, citing the recent Loibol killings where three people died.
The Tamenglong attack occurred the same day 14 Kuki hostages were released in Senapati after nearly a month in captivity. Kuki organisations alleged the assailants were suspected NSCN-IM and ZUF-K cadres, though officials have not confirmed identities.
Authorities had not released an official statement on the attackers’ identity or the investigation status as of Tuesday evening.
