Fresh violence mars burial of Lasan victim in Manipur's Kangpokpi; Kuki groups launch economic blockade

Fresh violence was reported in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Saturday, June 13, with a Kuki village volunteer killed and two others injured, even as hundreds gathered to bury farmer Haogin Lhouvum, who was killed earlier this week in the conflict-affected Lasan area.
 

According to local sources, the latest incident occurred around 8.40 a.m. in the border area between Lasan Kuki village in Tamenglong district and Langka Liangmei Naga village in Kangpokpi district. Armed assailants allegedly opened fire on Kuki village volunteers, killing one person and injuring two others.
 

The incident came four days after Lhouvum was killed while engaged in agricultural activities in Lasan village on June 9. His death had triggered protests and a district-wide shutdown called by Kuki civil society organisations in Kangpokpi.
 

Hundreds of mourners attended Lhouvum's funeral at the Martyrs' Cemetery in Phaijang despite persistent rain. Family members, community leaders, village representatives and civil society organisations participated in the burial and condolence programmes.
 

The funeral service was led by Rev. Thangsat Kipgen under the aegis of the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU). Representatives of Kuki Inpi Manipur, SAHILCA and other Kuki organisations were present.
 

Although Kuki civil society organisations had earlier decided to lift the district-wide shutdown following the completion of Lhouvum's burial, they later resolved to continue it until the burial of the village volunteer killed in Saturday's attack in the Lasan-Langka area.
 

The organisations also announced an indefinite economic blockade, alleging that repeated appeals for adequate security deployment in vulnerable Kuki-inhabited areas had not been addressed.
 

Speaking on the sidelines of the funeral, Kuki CSOs Kangpokpi spokesperson Janghaolun Haokip alleged that delays in deploying sufficient security personnel had contributed to recurring attacks and loss of lives in vulnerable villages.
 

"The government has repeatedly failed to ensure the safety of our people despite persistent appeals. The continuing attacks and killings are a direct consequence of that failure," Haokip said.
 

He said village volunteers had been raised to protect villages in the absence of adequate security and warned against any action targeting them while security concerns remained unresolved.
 

Haokip said the economic blockade would continue until concrete measures were taken to ensure the safety of residents in vulnerable areas. He also reiterated the demand for an early political solution to address the concerns of the Kuki community.