Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, September 22:
The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has strongly condemned the reported killing of a young Naga student in Tamenglong district, describing the incident as a grave attack on an innocent civilian and calling for justice for the bereaved family.
The victim has been identified as NK Wiphenbou, son of NK Maihinlakbou, from the Takou area under Tamei Sub-Division. Reports said the teenager was travelling towards Tamei when he was shot dead at around 10:05 a.m. on September 21 along the road between Upper Takou and Malek (Tamah). Other reports have identified him as a 17-year-old Liangmai Naga student.
The circumstances of the killing have triggered fresh concern over the safety of civilians travelling through the remote stretches of northern Tamenglong. Local reports said Naga village volunteers later recovered the victim’s body after hearing gunfire in the area.
In its statement, the TNL Working Committee alleged that cadres belonging to the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), Kuki National Front–Presidential (KNF-P) and Kuki National Front–Nehlun (KNF-N) were responsible for the attack and alleged that the groups were operating under the command of Jangboi Kipgen, whom the statement identified as a KNF/UPF commander.
The specific allegations have not been independently verified by authorities, and police investigations into the circumstances and perpetrators were still awaited at the time of reporting.
Regional reports, however, have also cited local sources alleging the involvement of Kuki militants.
The TNL condemned what it described as the “cold-blooded murder” of an innocent student and expressed deep anguish over the loss of a young life.
The organisation also referred to the broader security situation in the region, alleging that armed groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement have continued to be implicated in violence.
The TNL called for accountability and urged the authorities to ensure that civilians are protected irrespective of their community.
The killing comes amid heightened tensions and a series of violent incidents affecting Naga and Kuki communities in parts of Manipur. The latest incident has renewed concerns among residents about civilian security along vulnerable roads and remote village corridors.
The TNL Working Committee conveyed its heartfelt condolences and prayers to the bereaved family, saying that the loss of a young student was an especially painful tragedy.
It further reaffirmed its solidarity with fellow Naga communities facing threats to their lives, land and identity.
The killing has also prompted calls from other Naga bodies and public representatives for swift investigation and accountability. MLA Awangbow Newmai, the Joint Tribe Council and the Joint Tribe Students’ Association have condemned the incident and demanded action against those responsible.
For a family expecting a young student to return home from school, September 21 instead became a day of irreversible grief. The incident has once again underscored the human cost of continuing armed violence in Manipur, where ordinary civilians remain exposed to the consequences of conflict.
The TNL said the protection of innocent lives must remain paramount and that justice for Wiphenbou should not be lost amid competing political narratives.
“The loss of one innocent life is a loss to the entire community,” the organisation said in substance, urging solidarity with the bereaved family and renewed commitment to protecting civilians from further bloodshed.