Three Kuki youths, injured in an armed attack on their village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on June 15, were moved out of Imphal’s Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) early Wednesday (June 17, 2026 morning.

Officials said the trio — 18-year-olds Genlenmang Vaiphei and Paogoulal Chongloi, and 20-year-old Lunliandaw Vaiphei — were shifted from RIMS under tight security around 12.15 a.m. to the Churachandpur Medical College, about 60 km south of Imphal.

The Meiteis are in the majority in Imphal and the valley beyond, while the Kuki-Zos dominate Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts. An ethnic conflict broke out between the two communities in May 2023, claiming more than 250 lives.

Protesters gathered outside RIMS soon after the three Kuki youths, including a footballer who has played for Kolkata’s Mohun Bagan club, were admitted on June 15. The security forces used batons and tear gas shells to disperse the mob.

The following night, the security forces foiled attempts by the protesters to storm the hospital in a bid to take the injured trio away. They also threw stones at the security personnel manning the RIMS gate.

Kuki organisations said the three youths should not have been admitted to RIMS in the first place, given the ethnic tension. They also said the three were injured when armed cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) and the Kamson faction of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) fired at people near Leilon Vaiphei village around 6 a.m. on June 15.

The NSCN and ZUF are Naga armed organisations. Six Naga men, whose bodies were recovered almost a month after they were abducted on May 13 after the killing of three church leaders, belonged to Leilon Vaiphei village.

‘Militant’ killed

Meanwhile, the State police said a suspected militant was killed on Tuesday in joint operations by security forces, launched across Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Ukhrul districts to dismantle extremist bases. The security forces include the Army, the Assam Rifles, the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Manipur police.

In a statement on Wednesday (June 17, 2026), the State police said that it received information about an encounter on Tuesday between Molphei and Songkong villages in Churachandpur district. “The encounter involved a joint column of the (paramilitary) Assam Rifles and the Army against suspected militants. During the encounter, one suspected militant was killed. An AK-47 rifle, along with magazines, ammunition, explosives, and other incriminating items, was recovered from the spot,” the statement read.

Fake encounter: MLA

Local MLA Letzamang Haokip claimed the person killed was a civilian named Lenminsang, and not a militant. Condemning the “shocking killing” in what he said could be a fake encounter, he demanded a “thorough judicial and independent” probe into the incident and stringent action against all those responsible for his death.

He also demanded that the security forces hand over the slain man’s body to members of his family for the final rites with dignity and respect.