A man was killed on Tuesday during an alleged gunfight with the Assam Rifles and the Army in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, the state police said, describing him as a “suspected militant”
However, local residents alleged he was a civilian, identified as Lenminsang Haokip.
According to a statement issued by Manipur Police, the gunfight took place on Tuesday between Molphei and Songkong villages during an operation against suspected militants.
“During the encounter, one suspected militant was killed,” the statement added. “One AK-47 rifle, along with magazines, ammunition, explosives, and other incriminating items, was recovered from the spot.”
The police further said that a case had been registered and that further investigation was underway.
However, the Songkong Village Authority disputed the official version of events and condemned the “brutal and inhumane attack carried out by the Indian Army on our village".
It accused the Army of acting with “complete disregard for the safety of women and children” and using drones and bombs to attack the village.
The village authority said Haokip was an “innocent civilian” who was killed during an “unprovoked assault”. It further alleged that after his death, his clothes were changed into military fatigues and his body was taken away.
“To this hour there is no trace of his mortal remains,” the statement issued on Wednesday said.
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Letzamang Haokip also condemned the killing “at the hands of those entrusted with his protection” and called for an independent inquiry into the incident.
He said witnesses had alleged that after Haokip was shot, his clothes were removed and his body was taken away by the joint security forces.
He added that there were allegations that attempts were later made to portray the incident as the result of a gunfight with security personnel.
The legislator said that if the allegations were found to be true, they would constitute a “grave abuse of authority and a serious violation of the rule of law”.
He demanded the prompt recovery and handover of the body to the family, and called for strict action against anyone found to have concealed facts, tampered with evidence or misrepresented the circumstances surrounding the death.
Ethnic clashes had broken out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities in Manipur in May 2023. According to official estimates in April 2025, the violence has left at least 260 people dead. The conflict has seen periodic spikes in violence in 2024 and 2025.
Written by Sara Varghese. Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.
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