Kuki man found dead a day after abduction in Manipur

A 71-year-old Kuki man was found dead in a forest near Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district of Manipur on Sunday, a day after being allegedly abducted from his field. Hemjang Haokip of Khunkho Kuki village was discovered with his hands tied behind his back. He had been reported missing after his field hut was set ablaze on Saturday, with heavy rainfall that day having kept many villagers away from their fields.

Following reports of Haokip's disappearance, villagers launched a search that continued until dark but failed to locate him. On Sunday, security forces deployed sniffer dogs and intensified operations after Haokip's farm clothing—trousers, shirt, and sweater—were recovered during the search. His body was subsequently found in a nearby forest. The circumstances surrounding his death and the identity of those responsible were not immediately known.

Multiple organisations responded to the incident. The Kuki Youth Organisation (KYO) and Khunkho Kuki Village Authority demanded his safe return and issued a 24-hour ultimatum for his release, warning of widespread democratic protests. The Committee on Tribal Unity, Sadar Hills, appealed for his safe release. The Ariang (Khunkhu) Naga Village Authority clarified it had no involvement in his disappearance and cautioned against unverified allegations that could create distrust between the two villages, which it said had maintained peaceful relations for decades.