A woman was shot dead and her husband and six-year-old son injured in an attack by unidentified assailants in Tollen village of Tamenglong district in Manipur on Sunday, according to preliminary reports and local authorities. The incident occurred at around 4 am along National Highway-37 (NH-37), a key link between Imphal and Jiribam.
What happened
Police and security sources said gunmen opened fire on a family at their residence in Tollen (also spelt Tolen) in the Tamenglong West (Tousem) sub-division. The victim, identified in preliminary reports as Nu Lhingzangai Singsit, was fatally shot at the scene. Her husband, Seineh Singsit, sustained bullet injuries and their six-year-old son was also wounded. Two other children from the family reportedly escaped unhurt.
Kaimai Assam Rifles personnel responded to the incident and evacuated the injured father and son for urgent medical treatment, moving them towards Jiribam, the nearest major medical centre. The initial reports did not specify the condition of the child at the time of evacuation.
Local context and concerns
Tollen is a small settlement of about 262 people living in 54 households, according to 2011 Census-based district demographic details. The village lies along NH-37 and is close to other habitations including Kaimai and Oinamlong. The attack has renewed worries about the safety of civilians residing along the NH-37 corridor, which remains strategically important for movement and logistics in the region.
Local community organisations reacted strongly to the killing. The Kuki Youth Organisation (KYO) Women’s Council described the incident as unacceptable and urged an immediate, impartial and thorough inquiry. The Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong and Noney (JTN) also condemned the attack and alleged that suspected Naga militants were responsible; that allegation has not been independently verified.
- Victim: Nu Lhingzangai Singsit (female, reportedly 46)
- Injured: Seineh Singsit (husband) and their six-year-old son
- Responding agency: Kaimai Assam Rifles; evacuated injured to Jiribam
- Location: Tollen village, Tamenglong West (Tousem) sub-division, along NH-37
Demands for accountability and security
The Kuki Inpi JTN questioned how attackers were able to carry out the operation reportedly only a few hundred metres from known security deployments. The organisation demanded that the matter be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for an impartial probe and sought permanent deployment of adequate security personnel in Tollen to safeguard civilians.
The KYO Women’s Council called for those responsible to be identified and prosecuted “based on credible evidence and due process”, and urged strengthened intelligence-gathering and preventive security measures in the area.
Ongoing probe
Police have initiated an investigation. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and authorities have not issued further public details about arrests or forensic findings at the scene. The allegation implicating Naga militants remains unconfirmed pending official inquiry.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Time of attack | About 4 am (preliminary reports) |
| Place | Tollen village, Tamenglong district, along NH-37 |
| Casualties | 1 killed, 2 injured |
| Responders | Kaimai Assam Rifles; local police |
Wider implications
The attack comes against the backdrop of sustained ethnic tensions in parts of Manipur, where sporadic violence has affected civilian movement and security along key corridors. Incidents of targeted attacks in inhabited areas have intensified demands from communities and civil bodies for better protection, increased intelligence cover and transparent investigations by independent agencies.
Authorities have so far not publicly confirmed whether the incident is linked to any organised militant group or to localised disputes. Police are expected to share further updates as forensic and investigative work progresses.
Residents and local organisations have urged calm while calling for urgent steps to reassure civilians living along NH-37 and nearby settlements. Security agencies have been asked to increase patrols and improve coordination with community leaders to prevent further civilian harm.
