Manipur: Naga student shot dead in Tamenglong ambush

A teenage Naga student was shot dead by unidentified armed individuals in the Tamei area of Manipur’s Tamenglong district on Monday morning. The victim, identified as 15 or 17-year-old NK Wiphenbou from Takou village, was reportedly traveling to collect essential food items when the attack occurred around 10:30 am.

Villagers reported hearing approximately 20 rounds of gunfire before discovering the boy's body along a roadside. While police have launched an investigation, no group has officially claimed responsibility for the killing.

The Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council Manipur (WC-JTCM) condemned the incident, describing it as a “premeditated ambush.” The council alleged that the killing was carried out by suspected Kuki armed groups, specifically naming the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), Kuki National Front (P), and Kuki National Front (N). The WC-JTCM further accused these groups of violating the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and called for immediate action from state and central governments.

This incident occurs amid ongoing ethnic tensions between the Naga and Kuki communities in Manipur, which have resulted in numerous fatalities in recent months.