Kukiland: Fresh and strong condemnation has poured in over the brutal killing of an elderly farmer in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, with three prominent civil and rights bodies — the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR), the Sadar Hills Chiefs’ Association (SAHILCA) and the Kuki Human Rights Council (KHRC) — demanding a thorough, impartial and time-bound investigation into the incident that has triggered widespread fear, anger and outrage across Sadar Hills and beyond.
The victim has been identified as Hemjamang Haokip, 71, a resident of Khunkho Kuki Village under South-West Sadar Hills. According to separate press statements issued by the three organisations, Haokip was allegedly abducted on October 3, 2026, while working in his agricultural field and later found murdered. SAHILCA and KHRC stated in their releases that he was taken from his farm hut by cadres of the NSCN-IM and ZUF-Kamson group while he was engaged in his daily livelihood activities, and that his hut was subsequently burnt down to destroy evidence and his shelter. His body was later recovered with his hands tied with rope, indicating torture and brutality before execution.
KWOHR, in its statement issued on Sunday, described the killing as a “heinous act of violence” against an elderly civilian and said that targeting a person engaged in peaceful farming amounted to a serious violation of human rights and humanitarian norms. The organisation said the continued targeting of civilians, including elderly persons, women and those engaged in farming and other livelihood activities, is unacceptable and cannot be justified under any political, ethnic or territorial pretext. It noted that the incident had left Haokip’s family, especially his wife and children, and the wider community in deep grief and raised serious concerns over the safety of civilians living in remote and vulnerable areas.
SAHILCA, the apex body of village chiefs in Sadar Hills, echoed similar concerns and termed the killing a “grave and unacceptable act of violence” that violates customary and human values. The chiefs’ body said the incident had caused widespread fear and anxiety among residents of Khunkho and neighbouring villages such as Songpi, Haipi and Kharam Vaiphei, most of whom depend entirely on paddy cultivation and jhum farming for survival. It said that with the harvest season at its peak, farmers are now afraid to go to their fields located away from the main village habitation, fearing abduction and death, which will have serious impact on food security for the coming year.
Joining the chorus of condemnation, the Kuki Human Rights Council (KHRC) strongly condemned the alleged abduction and cold-blooded execution of the elderly farmer and said the incident is not an isolated crime but part of a systematic and continuing pattern of targeting unarmed Kuki civilians by armed groups operating with impunity in Manipur. KHRC said the brutal manner of killing — tying the hands of a 71-year-old and burning his hut — shows a depraved disregard for human dignity and the laws of humanity, and must be treated as a serious rights violation deserving of the highest level of judicial scrutiny.
KHRC further stated that the killing clearly exposes the harsh reality that Kuki civilians are today facing a three-front war and are left defenceless on all sides. On the first front, according to KHRC, Kuki villagers face persistent aggression, extortion, abduction and killings by Naga armed groups like the NSCN-IM and ZUF-Kamson in the hill areas of Kangpokpi, Tamenglong and adjacent regions. On the second front, they face continued attacks, arson and threats from Meitei radical groups in the valley fringe areas since May 2023, which have already displaced thousands. And on the third front, KHRC alleged, Indian Army and central security forces have been arresting Kuki village volunteers and village defence volunteers who are the only line of defence for unprotected villages, thereby leaving the civilian population trapped between hostile forces.
The Council questioned why armed groups like NSCN-IM, which has been under a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India since 1997 and is engaged in prolonged political negotiations, are reportedly allowed to operate freely and commit atrocities in Manipur. It said the ceasefire was meant to bring peace, but instead it appears to have given a licence for extortion and killing of Kuki farmers in Sadar Hills. KHRC demanded that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of India immediately clarify its stand and ensure that ceasefire ground rules are strictly enforced and not violated in Manipur.
All three organisations have called upon the Government of Manipur, the Kangpokpi district administration and law enforcement agencies to act immediately without any bias or delay. KWOHR urged for a thorough, impartial and time-bound investigation to establish the facts and circumstances leading to the killing and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice without delay. SAHILCA demanded that the perpetrators be identified, apprehended and prosecuted under the law and that accountability be fixed in a transparent manner so that such atrocities are not repeated.
KWOHR further emphasised that human life is sacred and that violence can never be justified as a means of addressing political, ethnic or territorial differences, while KHRC urged the National Human Rights Commission and the Manipur Human Rights Commission to take suo moto cognizance of the case. The organisations appealed to the authorities to take concrete measures to protect civilians, particularly those living in isolated and vulnerable areas, and to ensure regular security patrols and deployment during farming activities so that villagers can cultivate without fear.
The condemnation comes at a time when Kangpokpi district observed a 24-hour total shutdown on Sunday called by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, to protest the incident and to demand justice for the deceased farmer. The shutdown brought normal life to a halt across the district, with markets, educational institutions and inter-district transport services affected. Civil society members said the bandh reflected the collective anger, grief and sense of insecurity prevailing among the agrarian communities of the region who feel abandoned by the state.
Earlier, the Kuki CSO Working Committee South-West Sadar Hills and the Kuki Council had also condemned the same incident in separate press releases issued on October 4 and 5. While there is a slight variation in the age of the victim mentioned in different releases — some mentioning 57 — all organisations confirm the identity of the victim as Hemjamang Haokip, the village as Khunkho Kuki, the date of abduction as October 3, and the alleged involvement of NSCN-IM and ZUF-Kamson groups. The Kuki Council had also questioned the role of central agencies in allowing armed groups to move freely.
As of Sunday evening, no official statement has been issued by the Manipur Police, Assam Rifles or the Kangpokpi district administration regarding the incident or the serious allegations levelled against the NSCN-IM and ZUF-Kamson. Villagers of Khunkho have appealed for adequate and permanent security cover and have said they will continue to press for justice until the perpetrators are held accountable and the safety of farming communities is ensured. The family of the deceased has also appealed for ex-gratia and support from the government.
