Longpi ambush survivor Nei Esther Gangte dies after week-long battle for life in Manipur

Twenty-one-year-old Nei Esther Gangte, who survived an ambush in Manipur’s Noney district that killed two villagers, died at the District Hospital in Churachandpur on Sunday, September 20, after battling multiple bullet injuries for a week. Her death took the toll in the September 13 attack to three.

Gangte, daughter of Th. Moia Gangte and Chongneijol Gangte, succumbed to her injuries seven days after the attack at Longpi village under Nungba police station in Noney district.

Two other villagers, Thangvel Gangte and Julie Singson, who was reportedly two months pregnant, were killed in the attack, according to community organisations.

The three were reportedly travelling to buy rice when they were ambushed. Gangte sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was later shifted to Churachandpur for specialised treatment.

According to accounts from the area, villagers carried the critically injured Gangte for nearly 20 km on a makeshift palanquin before she could be taken for medical care.

Police and other official accounts have described the attackers as unidentified armed men. The Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong and Noney and other Kuki-Zo organisations have alleged that NSCN-IM cadres and ZUF-K were involved in the attack.

Following Gangte’s death, the Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong and Noney expressed grief and called for those responsible for the attack to be apprehended and prosecuted. The organisation also urged the Government of India to ensure justice for the victims and their families.

The KSO Churachandpur also mourned Gangte’s death and described the September 13 incident as the Longpi “massacre”.

Kuki-Zo community organisations have said Gangte’s death takes the number of Kuki-Zo people killed in attacks they attribute to NSCN-IM and associated armed groups this year to 27, including two unborn children.

Gangte’s death has renewed calls from Kuki-Zo organisations for accountability and stronger security for civilians in vulnerable villages in the conflict-affected region.