A massive protest rocked Kangpokpi District after the early morning arrest of three individuals by a joint team of state security forces. The arrests took place around 4:00 a.m. on July 9 in L. Hengjol village, with the accused alleged to be Kuki militants involved in terrorist activities.
According to a statement by Manipur Police on social media, the operation, conducted by Manipur Police and CRPF based on intelligence from the NIA, led to an exchange of fire with armed militants. The arrested individuals were identified as Thangjoel Haokip (alias Thangboi), Jangjoulen Khongsai (alias Goulen), and Jangminlun Singson (alias Franky). Authorities recovered two AK rifles, one MA1 MK-3 rifle, one SBBL, and 1,382 rounds of assorted ammunition. The suspects and the seized arms have been handed over to the NIA for further legal action.
However, the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District (CoTU) and local villagers refuted these allegations, asserting that the detained individuals were village volunteers safeguarding their community amid ongoing violence in the state. They accused security forces of unjustly attacking the home of Tonghen Haokip, the village chief, resulting in property damage, destruction of furniture, and injuries to several women due to what they described as unprovoked and random shooting.
CoTU condemned the actions of the security forces, describing the attack on Tonghen Haokip’s home as a deliberate threat to their community’s existence within a constitutional democracy. Following the expiration of CoTU’s ultimatum without a response from authorities, the Kuki-Zo community in Sadar Hills gathered at Kangpokpi District Headquarters, holding a large rally from Brig. M. Thomas Ground to the SP Kangpokpi office, where they staged a significant sit-in protest.
