Three men collecting firewood killed in a militant ambush in Manipur's Kangpokpi district

19 October 2026

Militants fired on a group of 14 Meitei villagers collecting firewood in the Sunurok hills under Sagolmang police station in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on 19 October 2026. Three men were killed and three were injured. The dead are Arubam Ronil, 35, Lairenlakpam Inaobi, 51, and Kshetrimayum Sushil, 32. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo put the time of the shooting at about 9.40 am. The bodies were taken to Imphal and placed outside the chief minister's residence at Babupara before police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. A combing operation was launched with police, the Central Reserve Police Force, CoBRA, Assam Rifles and the Border Security Force, and Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh chaired a security review.