Four Kuki civilians died and a six-year-old boy was injured in two separate attacks in the hill districts of Manipur on 13 September 2026. These violent incidents occurred within hours of each other, leaving security forces and local authorities to deal with unidentified attackers. Police accounts detailed in a report by PTI place the first ambush at Tollen Kuki village in the Tamenglong district before dawn. Lhingzangai Singsit was killed immediately at the location. Her husband, Seineh Singsit, and their six-year-old son were shot during the same attack. Seineh Singsit died while being taken for medical care, and the child was admitted to a hospital.
Two additional civilians lost their lives in a second attack that took place later that day near Longpi village under the Nungba police station in the Noney district, according to information from
The Sangai Express. Victims of this incident were identified as Julie Gangte and Thangvel. A woman traveling with this group remains missing, as noted by community organizations. State authorities have not identified the gunmen responsible, and no armed group has claimed responsibility.
India Today reported that the location of the Longpi attack is roughly 30 km from the nearest police station, with poor road conditions complicating the response. Security personnel reached the Tollen site, but the lack of immediate forensic access poses a significant challenge to the investigation. Kuki organizations have suggested that specific Naga insurgent groups might be involved, but the police have not endorsed these claims. Local leaders including the Kaimai Naga Village Authority have formally condemned the violence and urged residents to avoid spreading unverified rumors. These attacks coincide with the annual observance of Sahnit Ni, also known as Black Day.
The Indian Express highlighted that the current crisis in Manipur, which dates back to May 2023, is defined by the Meitei Kuki fault line. Violence in mixed areas threatens to disrupt essential supply routes on National Highway 37. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the attacks on civilians and stated they have no place in society.
