Bodies of Two Missing Youths Found in Manipur; Protesters Clash with Security Forces in Kangpokpi

PTI, Nov 1, 2026, Imphal: The mutilated bodies of two youths, who had gone missing from a village in Manipur's Kangpokpi district three days earlier, were found in a hilly stretch in adjoining Senapati on Sunday, police said.

The bodies were found stuffed in gunny bags in a banana farm during a search operation to trace the two youths, identified as T Chongloi (21) and Paoginlal Hangsing (20), who went missing from Taphou Kuki village on October 29, they said.

Following the discovery of the bodies, protesters alleging that the youths were abducted and killed by "Naga militants" clashed with security forces at the Kangpokpi district headquarters.

Security forces baton-charged the agitators, who were protesting in front of the SP's office, and also used tear gas to disperse the mob, officials said.

The agitators claimed that a few of them sustained injuries in the incident.

Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the killing of the two youths.

In a statement, Kipgen said, "What began with hopes of safe return ended in tragedy."

She demanded that "heinous crimes be thoroughly investigated" and the culprits be brought to justice.

The Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) has demanded the resignation of another Deputy Chief Minister, Losii Dikho, who is from the Naga community, over the incident.

It also sought the transfer of Taphou Kuki village from the jurisdiction of the Senapati Superintendent of Police to that of the Kangpokpi SP.

The committee said the bodies would not be taken to the village for the final rites until the perpetrators were arrested.

Joint teams of the police, CRPF and Assam Rifles had conducted search operations along the boundary of Kangpokpi and Senapati districts to trace the youths, officials said.

"During the course of one such operation, the joint teams recovered the two bodies. The bodies are of the two missing Kuki youths," an official said.

"An extensive search operation was conducted today by joint teams comprising the Manipur Police, CoBRA, CRPF, Assam Rifles and RAF in the general area east of NH-2, along the SP Road," the police said in a statement.

SP Road is a hilly stretch that connects Senapati and Kangpokpi districts.

Necessary legal formalities are being carried out by the police, the statement said.