Noney, July 29, 2026: One member of the Naga Village Guard (NVG) was killed and five others, including two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, were injured in an exchange of fire in Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday morning, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Lanbilung Riamei (22), son of Kadirang Riamei of Longmai Noney Bazaar. He succumbed to his injuries after the firing.
According to police sources, two CoBRA commandos – Head Constable Radheshyam and Constable Jitendra Kumar – sustained minor injuries. Three other NVG members also suffered serious bullet injuries. Their identities are yet to be confirmed. The injured are likely to be evacuated to Imphal for treatment.
Local sources said the CRPF’s elite CoBRA unit launched an early morning operation at Bitiang village under Tupul sub-division, where an NVG training camp is reportedly located. An exchange of fire broke out during the operation.
Following the incident, communication networks in the Bitiang-Tupul area were severely disrupted. Heavy security deployment, including additional CoBRA personnel, Rapid Action Force and Manipur Police, has been made to control the situation.
Police and security agencies are yet to issue a detailed official statement on the circumstances leading to the firing.
JTC Announces Indefinite Shutdown
Soon after reports of the operation emerged, the Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council (JTC), Manipur, announced an immediate and indefinite shutdown across Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme inhabited areas.
In a statement, the Council alleged that the operation was an “unprovoked and cowardly attack” targeting Naga Village Guards and accused the CoBRA unit of colluding with an insurgent outfit. The Council termed the operation as “state-sponsored terrorism” and demanded decisive action from the Government of India.
The JTC linked the incident to the recent killing of six Nagas, whose mutilated bodies were recovered on June 10 after they were taken hostage on May 13. The Council alleged that those responsible for the killings have not been arrested, while operations are being launched against Naga volunteers.
The Council said essential services including healthcare, educational institutions, electricity, water supply and telecommunications will be exempted from the shutdown. It said the shutdown will continue until the Union Government arrests those involved in the killing of the six Nagas and stops hostile operations against Naga villages.
The JTC also alleged that Kuki militants are moving freely, a claim that has not been verified by security agencies.
It may be mentioned that tension between Naga and Kuki groups escalated after twin ambushes on May 13 left four people, including three church leaders, dead. On the same day, 48 people from both communities were captured. While 28 were released on May 15 and the remaining 14 Kuki hostages were freed on June 9, the bodies of six Naga hostages were later found.
In response, Naga groups had blocked national highways demanding justice, while Kuki groups on Monday launched a counter economic blockade on the highway connecting Manipur with Nagaland, demanding free movement of essential commodities to their areas.
Manipur has witnessed ethnic violence since May 2023, which initially began between Meitei and Kuki communities and later involved other communities. Over 260 people have been killed and around 60,000 displaced.
