India
Seven Victims’ Bodies Returned to Families Amid Manipur Violence Claims
The mortal remains of seven of the nine people killed in Manipur violence, including six Nagas and one person of Nepali origin, were handed over to their families on Sunday. The Makui Village Authority in Kangpokpi district demanded the immediate return of the head of a Naga village guard, R Ajinpou, who was allegedly beheaded by armed Kuki militants. The authority said the attack was carried out by a combined force of the Kuki National Front‑Presidential (KNF (P)) faction, the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) and the cross‑border KNA‑Burma faction. A video circulated on social media purportedly showed armed individuals, suspected to be Kuki militants, filming Ajinpou’s head. The authority also alleged that three cows belonging to Makui resident Chamriupiu were slaughtered and stolen, and that churches were set ablaze after looting. It called for the head’s return to allow the family to perform last rites and urged the Government of India, the Manipur government and global human rights bodies to intervene. The remains of the four deceased village guards were handed over to their families under the escort of central security forces. In Ukhrul district, the remains of Sandeep Rai, a 30‑year‑old person of Nepali origin, were handed over to his family after a post‑mortem at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. Rai was killed while travelling in a car from a friend’s house near Chingphei and Yaolen villages. The Manipur Gorkha Welfare Union demanded a thorough, impartial and time‑bound investigation, identification and prosecution of those responsible, and called for strengthened security arrangements and compensation for the bereaved. In Kamjong district, the remains of two Tangkhul Nagas killed by unidentified armed men were handed over to their families after post‑mortem examinations. An FIR at Kamjong police station suspected the attackers to be Kuki militants of the Kuki National Army (KNA). The FIR described an exchange of fire that killed Domkhonei Touthang and Michael Haokip, and the setting ablaze of 23 houses. A suo motu case was registered under several legal provisions for investigation. A 24‑hour shutdown called by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) across Kangpokpi district disrupted normal life, with commercial establishments closed and National Highway 2 blocked at several points. CoTU said the shutdown was in view of the security situation arising from coordinated attacks in Chassad village, Kamjong district, Yaolen Ukhrul district and along the IT Road in Kangpokpi district. Chief Minister Khemchand Singh condemned the killings and violence, directed authorities to restore peace and order, and urged community leaders and civil society organisations to exercise restraint and cooperate to defuse tensions.
Frequently asked questions
How many victims' bodies were returned to families after the Manipur violence?
Seven of the nine people killed had their mortal remains handed over to their families.
Which authority demanded the return of the head of the Naga village guard R Ajinpou?
The Makui Village Authority in Kangpokpi district demanded the immediate return of the head.
What groups were alleged to have carried out the attack that beheaded R Ajinpou?
The attack was said to have been carried out by a combined force of the Kuki National Front‑Presidential (KNF (P)) faction, the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) and the cross‑border KNA‑Burma faction.