Kukiland: The Twilang Area Local Electricity Management Committee, based at T. Waichong, I.T. Road, Kangpokpi District, has strongly condemned the brutal killing of its community lineman (L) Paokhongam @ Pangam Chongloi, 36, son of Lutlam Chongloi of Wakotphai Village. In an official statement titled CONDEMNATION dated 23rd September 2026, the Committee said he was killed in cold blood by suspected NSCN (EF) cadres at Lasan village on the morning of September 23, 2026, while he was on official electricity restoration work.
As per the statement, Late Paokhongam had gone to Lasan on 22nd September 2026 to attend to minor faults in the electric line that feeds several villages along the corridor. He was expected to return on 23rd September after completing the work. At around 4:00 AM on 23rd September, Lasan and nearby Songpibung villages came under heavy armed attack. During the firing, he received bullet injuries and died on the spot. The Committee clarified he was not a combatant but a civilian technician present solely for public service.
Paokhongam, also known as Pangam among villagers, was a resident of Wakotphai and was 36 years old. He was not a regular government employee but a local youth who had taken up the responsibility of maintaining electricity lines in one of the most difficult terrains of Kangpokpi district. Family sources said he was the sole breadwinner and had been serving the area for the last two years without any fixed salary, supported only by community contributions.
The Committee explained that after the May 3, 2023 Meitei-Kuki conflict, the government withdrew or failed to post any official lineman for Twilang Area. The entire I.T. Road stretch, which connects more than 20 Kuki villages, was left without technical manpower. In 2024, CSOs of Twilang Area jointly decided to appoint a local lineman to ensure villages do not remain in darkness for weeks. Paokhongam was selected for his knowledge of electrical work and willingness to work in risky conditions.
Since 2024, he had been the backbone of power restoration along the I.T. Road. Villagers said he would walk 10-15 km a day with tools, climb poles during rain, and work till midnight during breakdowns. He had restored power after storms, landslides, and line thefts. The Committee said his sincerity, dedication and commitment were exemplary and he often put public need above personal safety, which makes his killing on duty even more painful.
The Committee stated this is not an isolated incident. Violence against Kuki villages along I.T. Road has been increasing, and this is reportedly the sixth major attack in recent months. Such repeated targeting has created fear among villagers and is escalating tension between Kuki and Naga communities in the area. Attacking a lineman, who provides essential service to all, shows that even non-combatant civilian workers are not safe, the statement observed.
The Committee expressed profound grief and said it shares the pain of the bereaved family. It said the loss is irreparable and the entire Twilang area mourns his death. It prayed for the departed soul to rest in eternal peace and for Almighty God to give courage to the family members to bear the loss. Village authorities of Wakotphai and T. Waichong have also expressed condolences and are standing with the family.
The Committee urged the District Administration Kangpokpi, Manipur Police and security agencies to act without delay. It demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the Lasan-Songpibung attack, identification and arrest of the perpetrators, and legal action under relevant laws. It also demanded immediate deployment of adequate security for civilians living in Lasan, Songpibung, Twilang and adjoining villages, and special protection for frontline workers like linemen, water operators and health staff.
The Committee further demanded that the state government provide suitable ex-gratia compensation and long-term support to the family of Late Paokhongam. Though community-appointed, he was performing a state function that the government failed to provide. Therefore, the government should recognize his sacrifice as death on duty and extend financial aid, employment assistance to next of kin, and other rehabilitation measures. A memorandum will be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner and Power Department.
Finally, the Committee appealed to all parties to shun violence and maintain peace and tranquillity in Twilang Area. It said Twilang has already suffered due to conflict, displacement and lack of development. At a time when people are trying to restore normal life, such killings derail peace efforts. It called upon church bodies, elders and civil society of all communities to condemn the killing of an innocent service provider and to work collectively to prevent recurrence and ensure that essential services are not disrupted by armed violence.
