Residents blocked the Indo-Myanmar Sugnu Road at Kakching Khunou in Manipur on January 22 to protest the alleged abduction and killing of Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh, 31, a Meitei civilian, in Churachandpur district a day earlier, demanding justice and stronger security amid continuing ethnic unrest.
The blockade was imposed soon after news of the killing emerged. Protesters condemned what the family described as a “brutal killing” allegedly carried out by suspected Kuki militants and announced plans for a public meeting to decide further steps.
Rishikanta Singh, a resident of Kakching Khunou Uchan Makhong Leikai in Kakching district, was allegedly abducted on January 21 and killed in Churachandpur, according to a complaint filed by his family. He was the son of M. Tombi Singh and the husband of Chingnu Haokip, 38, a resident of Tuibong (Tuibuang) village in Churachandpur.
Family members said the couple had been living together in Churachandpur since December 19, 2025, after Rishikanta returned from Nepal, where he had been working. They said they first learnt of the incident after a disturbing video purportedly showing his killing surfaced and circulated on social media, followed by a phone call from his wife confirming the abduction and death.
Also read: Meitei man shot dead in Manipur
Speaking to the media, a family member said Rishikanta had married a Kuki woman and had remained in close contact with his family before the outbreak of ethnic violence. “After the crisis began, communication became irregular,” the family member said.
According to the account given by Rishikanta’s wife, three unidentified armed men arrived at their residence around 6.30 pm on January 21 and forcibly abducted him. She tried to resist but was overpowered. The couple were taken in a four-wheeler to a secluded area, where she was later pushed out of the vehicle. Rishikanta was then taken towards a nearby hill area and shot dead, she alleged.
“We strongly suspect the involvement of Kuki militants in the cold-blooded killing of my brother,” a family member said, adding that the wife had told them she could not identify the attackers.
A formal complaint has been lodged at Waikhong Police Station seeking a thorough investigation and strict action. The complaint states that at around 1.45 am on January 22, the family received telephonic confirmation from Chingnu Haokip about the abduction and killing.
Police confirmed that a case has been registered and that investigations are underway to establish the sequence of events and identify those responsible. Authorities appealed for calm as the probe continues.
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