IMPHAL: In a shocking incident that has reignited tensions in Manipur, a Meitei man visiting his Kuki fiancee in the hill district of Churachandpur was abducted and brutally shot dead on camera Wednesday evening. The killing, captured in graphic footage, has triggered street protests and prompted authorities to order a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the matter.
Abduction and Murder Details
M Rishikanta, a 31-year-old technical engineer working in Nepal, was allegedly dragged away by armed miscreants from his fiancee's home at Tuibong village in Churachandpur district, southwest of Imphal, around 6:30 pm. Police confirmed that his body was discovered hours later near Natjang village within the same district. A case has been registered, and search operations have been launched to apprehend the perpetrators.
Background and Security Concerns
Family members revealed that Rishikanta had arrived before Christmas and had been staying in Churachandpur since December 19. The couple had reportedly sought permission from the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), an umbrella group of Kuki insurgent outfits, for his stay. However, KNO has denied any knowledge of the visit or involvement in the killing.
A widely circulated video on social media showed Rishikanta's final moments, with gunmen shooting him twice despite his desperate pleas. The clip carried a chilling message reading: "No Peace, No Popular Government." An autopsy was conducted Thursday in Churachandpur, with family members identifying the body over a video call due to security concerns preventing travel to the hill district. Kakching police facilitated the process, and the body was scheduled to be handed over later in the day.
Ethnic Tensions and Protests
Manipur has remained deeply fractured since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023 between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo tribal communities, leaving communities effectively sealed off from one another. Even now, civilians rarely cross into areas identified with rival groups, and periodic flare-ups such as the one in Churachandpur keep the state on edge.
Protests erupted Thursday at Kakching Khunou, Rishikanta's native village in Kakching district, where residents blocked an arterial road to demand justice. In response to the escalating tensions, Governor AK Bhalla told a delegation of a Joint Action Committee (JAC) led by Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam that the case would be handed to the NIA for a "thorough and impartial" inquiry, according to an official release.
Government Response and Demands
The governor further stated that intensive combing operations were underway "on a war footing," with coordinated deployment of state and central forces to track those responsible. The JAC urged authorities to take steps to prevent similar killings, called for intensified action against armed Kuki militants in the hills, and sought disciplinary action against Churachandpur's police chief and central forces deployed there, alleging a failure to take preventive measures.
This tragic incident underscores the persistent volatility in Manipur, highlighting the urgent need for effective security measures and reconciliation efforts to bridge the deep ethnic divides that continue to plague the region.
