Sun Nov 24 16:02:44 UTC 2024: ## Six Members of Meitei Family Found Dead After Kidnapping in Manipur

**Jiribam, Manipur –** The brutal killing of six members of a Meitei family, including a three-year-old boy and his eight-month-old sibling, has sent shockwaves through Manipur. The bodies, showing signs of severe violence including gunshot wounds and mutilation, were discovered in the Barak River between November 15th and 18th. The family had been living in a relief camp after being displaced by the ongoing ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities.

A photograph, circulated on a WhatsApp group a day after the kidnapping, shows the family – including 3-year-old Chingkheinganba Singh, his mother L Heitonbi Devi, grandmother Y Rani Devi, his eight-month-old sibling Langamba Singh, and Heitonbi Devi’s sister and niece – seemingly held captive. The image, which went viral with smiling emojis, depicts a chilling premonition of their fate.

Autopsy reports confirm that Chingkheinganba suffered a bullet wound to the skull, stab wounds, fractures, and lacerations. His mother and grandmother also sustained multiple gunshot wounds and severe lacerations. The father, Laishram Herojit, has demanded the release of the remaining three autopsy reports from Jiribam police, citing his legal right to access them. The police have yet to respond.

The Manipur government has blamed Kuki militants for the premeditated kidnapping and killings. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating. The incident followed a November 11th attack on a police station near the Assam border, where two Meitei civilians were also killed by Kuki militants, according to police sources. A subsequent gunfight between the militants and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) resulted in the deaths of 10 militants.

The ongoing conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities, rooted in longstanding grievances over land rights, resources, and political representation, has claimed over 220 lives and displaced nearly 50,000 people since May 2023. The latest violence has sparked widespread condemnation from political leaders across party lines, who have described the incident as a calculated act of terror. The incident has further inflamed tensions between the communities, raising serious concerns about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Manipur.

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