Four people, including a married couple, were killed and a six-year-old child was injured after armed assailants carried out two separate attacks in Manipur’s Tamenglong district on Sunday, September 13. The incidents have renewed concerns over security and communal tensions in the region.

According to police officials, the first attack took place at around 5:30 am in Tollen village. A 46-year-old woman, identified as Lhingzangai Singsit, was shot dead at the spot. Her husband, Seineh Singsit, also sustained serious bullet injuries and later died while being taken to hospital.

The injured victims from the Tollen incident were transported towards Silchar Medical College and Hospital in Assam for treatment. Police officials said the six-year-old child who was injured in the attack remains under treatment and is currently reported to be in stable condition.

The second incident occurred several hours later in Longpi village, also located in Tamenglong district. Police said a man and a woman were shot dead in the attack, taking the total number of fatalities from the two incidents to four.

The Longpi incident reportedly occurred at around 3 pm. The village is located approximately 30 kilometres west of the Nungba police station. Officials said difficult road conditions prevented police personnel from immediately reaching the location.

Police have said that a detailed investigation will be carried out to establish the circumstances surrounding the killings and identify those responsible. No organisation has officially claimed responsibility for the attacks so far.

Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh expressed grief over the deaths and condemned the violence. The Chief Minister’s Office said that attacks targeting innocent civilians were unacceptable and had no place in society.

The violence has also triggered concerns among local communities about the possibility of renewed tensions. Kaimai village authorities condemned the Tollen attack and described it as an attempt to create suspicion, division and distrust between communities.

The village authority called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident and urged authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

Claims over Longpi attack

Following the killings in Longpi, the Western Village Volunteers (WVV), a Kuki group, claimed that the deceased were Jilie Singson and Reol Gangte.

The group alleged that cadres associated with the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K were responsible for the attack. These allegations, however, have not been independently established, and police have not confirmed the identities or affiliations of the alleged attackers.

The WVV further claimed that the attackers moved towards the centre of the village following the shootings but were confronted by Western Village Volunteers, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Police authorities are expected to investigate these claims as part of the broader inquiry.

Attacks coincide with ‘Black Day’

The attacks took place on September 13, a date observed by members of the Kuki community as “Black Day”. The day is observed annually to remember victims of ethnic violence during the Kuki-Naga conflict in Manipur during the 1990s.

The timing of the latest violence has added sensitivity to the incidents, particularly amid the state’s continuing efforts to restore peace and stability after prolonged ethnic tensions.

Authorities are now expected to strengthen security measures in affected areas while investigating the attacks. The latest killings have once again highlighted the fragile security situation in parts of Manipur and the challenges facing efforts to prevent further violence.

Police have not yet announced any arrests in connection with the attacks. Further details are expected as investigators reach the affected areas and gather evidence from the two crime scenes.