Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : On December 4th, a tragic incident occurred in the village of Leithao in the Tengnoupal district of Manipur, where 13 Meiteis were brutally murdered in an ambush. The area where the incident took place is predominantly inhabited by the Kuki community. The Assam Rifles promptly launched an operation based on intelligence inputs about the firefight. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless bodies of the Meiteis, but no weapons were found near them.
Interestingly, this incident unfolded just a day after the Kuki-Zo tribal groups in the Tengnoupal district welcomed a Peace Agreement between the Meitei Militant Faction UNLF (Pambei) and the Government of India. However, they expressed opposition to the establishment of camps for surrendered militants in Kuki-Zo tribal areas.
The Manipur Police took to social media to provide an update on the incident, stating that a gunfight had occurred between unknown armed miscreants in Leithao village near Saibol. They confirmed the unfortunate loss of 13 lives and mentioned that the district police and security forces were on the scene, with an investigation underway.
The deceased victims were transported to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal East. The security agencies were able to identify all 13 individuals on December 5th. Initially, there were rumors circulating that the deceased were militants from Myanmar who had entered India. However, further investigation revealed that they were local residents from different districts in Manipur.
Family members of the victims shared their heart-wrenching stories. Thingom Rosy, the younger sister of 25-year-old victim Thingom Rocky Singh, revealed that their family had been displaced from Torbung due to violence and was living in a relief camp. Singh had left the camp some time ago and had not been in contact with his family since. Moirangthem Chaoba, the elder sister of 39-year-old victim Moiragnthem Kingson Singh, expressed how they discovered the news of the incident through social media and were devastated after confirming his death.
The villagers of Leithao claimed that the slain individuals were part of a group of 20 attackers who entered the village on December 4th. The defense volunteers of the town engaged in a firefight with the attackers, resulting in the death of 13, while the others managed to escape. The villagers have since fled to neighboring areas and are requesting additional security forces to protect their villages.
This incident marks the highest single-day toll reported in the past six months. Leithao village had been relatively peaceful since the tensions in the state erupted on May 3rd, 2023. The absence of security forces in the town was due to minimal reports of incidents prior to the attack on December 4th. The villagers now seek a permanent post of the Assam Rifles in the village and improved connectivity for emergency situations.
The state of Manipur has been plagued by ethnic violence since May 3rd, triggered by protests from tribal groups against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The situation remains tense, and efforts are being made to restore peace and stability in the region.