Leimakhong: Paolen Thangeo, a Kuki villager from P. Moulding village in Leimakhong, Kangpokpi district, was reportedly shot dead on the morning of 20 October 2026 while he was collecting bamboo shoots in the nearby forest. Local sources said he had gone to the jungle to earn a living for his young children when he was caught in an alleged ambush involving cadres of NSCN-IM and ZUF-Kamson. Other villagers who were with him managed to flee in different directions and reached the village to report the incident. His death has left his family shattered and the entire Moulding village in fear.
The Kuki Youth Organization, Leimakhong Block, in its press release No. KYO/LKB/PR/2026/003 dated 20 October 2026, strongly condemned the attack. The organization said two Kuki civilians from Moulding village were targeted while searching for bamboo shoots, and the firing, allegedly carried out by NSCN-IM terrorists, claimed the life of Paolen Thangeo, while the other person survived and escaped. KYO said this is not an isolated incident but a painful reminder of the constant insecurity faced by Kuki villagers living in the Leimakhong foothills.
The latest killing comes when the community is still mourning an earlier unresolved crime in which a 71-year-old man was allegedly captured and beaten to death. According to KYO, that case has not seen a proper investigation by either the central government or the Manipur government till date. The loss of another innocent life has deepened the grief and anger among villagers, who feel that justice remains distant. Paolen was not involved in any armed activity; he was a daily wage earner who depended on the forest for survival.
The incident has triggered sharp questions about the response of Manipur Police and security agencies. Villagers point out that when Meitei civilians are killed, arrests and operations follow quickly, statements are issued, and action is visible. However, when Kuki civilians are killed in Kangpokpi district, there is often silence, delay and no accountability. This perceived difference in urgency has led to the anguished question being raised across Leimakhong — does the system believe that only Meitei lives matter? Every civilian life must carry equal value.
KYO Leimakhong Block, in its statement titled “Leimakhong Bleeds Again”, questioned the continued failure of the government to protect Kuki lives. The organization asked how many more innocent lives must be lost before authorities recognize the gravity of the crisis in the area. It said repeated demands for justice have been made, but justice has remained elusive. The organization stressed that its people cannot continue to live under fear while trying to carry out basic livelihood activities.
A key factor behind the rising vulnerability, according to KYO, is the dismantling of village volunteer arrangements and the withdrawal of security deployment from Leimakhong and its surrounding areas. Leimakhong is located in a sensitive fringe zone where Kuki villagers often have to enter forests and fields for firewood, bamboo shoots and farming. With village volunteers disarmed and central forces reduced, civilians are left exposed to armed groups that move freely in the area. The government cannot ignore this ground reality any longer.
The alleged involvement of NSCN-IM and ZUF-Kamson has added to the concern. NSCN-IM is under a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India and is part of an ongoing political dialogue, yet its cadres are repeatedly accused by Kuki bodies of attacking Kuki civilians. Villagers ask how such groups can allegedly operate around Kuki villages while Kuki village defence volunteers are arrested and disarmed. If protectors are removed and alleged aggressors remain unchecked, ordinary families are left without any safety net.
In its press note, KYO Leimakhong Block has put forward three urgent demands. It has demanded immediate restoration of adequate security cover in Leimakhong and all vulnerable adjoining villages. It has also demanded a thorough and time-bound investigation into both killings — the murder of Paolen Thangeo and the earlier killing of the 71-year-old man. Finally, it has demanded decisive action against those responsible, irrespective of their group affiliation, so that such attacks do not recur.
KYO warned that failure to act will further erode public trust. The press release stated that repeated silence, unfulfilled assurances and inaction cannot continue to be the response to civilian suffering. The organization said it refuses to accept a situation where civilian killings become routine, investigations remain incomplete and demands for justice are ignored. It emphasized that Kuki lives are not disposable and their suffering must not be normalized by the state.
The organization extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved family of Paolen Thangeo and expressed solidarity with the people of Moulding village. It said Leimakhong has suffered enough and does not need another condolence message after every killing. What the people need is protection before the next life is lost, accountability in place of silence, and justice that is equal for every community. The Department of Information and Public Relations of KYO Leimakhong Block said the government must act now.
The death of a father who went to the forest only to gather bamboo shoots to feed his children has exposed a painful truth on the ground. While his family mourns, the larger question remains unanswered — where is the urgency, where is the investigation, and where is the justice when Kuki civilians are killed? If justice is swift for one community and delayed for another, it is not justice at all. The government, Manipur Police and central agencies must ensure that all lives are protected equally before Leimakhong bleeds again.
