The victims, T Chongloi, 21, and Paoginlal Hangsing, 20, had gone missing from Taphou Kuki village on October 29. Police said their bodies were recovered from a banana farm in a hilly area during a joint search operation.The Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity said the bodies would not be taken to the village for the final rites until those responsible were arrested.Imphal,Nov 1, 2026 22:15 ISTThe mutilated bodies of two young men missing for three days were found stuffed in gunny bags in Manipur’s Senapati district on Sunday, triggering protests and clashes with security forces in neighbouring Kangpokpi.The victims, T Chongloi, 21, and Paoginlal Hangsing, 20, had gone missing from Taphou Kuki village on October 29.

Police said their bodies were recovered from a banana farm in a hilly area during a joint search operation.Protesters alleged that the two Kuki men had been abducted and killed by “Naga militants”. Police have not identified those responsible.PROTESTERS CLASH WITH SECURITY FORCESFollowing the discovery, protesters gathered outside the superintendent of police’s office in Kangpokpi district headquarters.

Security forces baton-charged the crowd and used tear gas to disperse it, officials said. Protesters claimed that some of them were injured.The Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity said the bodies would not be taken to the village for the final rites until those responsible were arrested.

It also demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, who belongs to the Naga community, and sought to bring Taphou Kuki village under the jurisdiction of the Kangpokpi superintendent of police instead of Senapati.DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER CONDEMNS KILLINGSDeputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the killings and demanded a thorough investigation.“What began with hopes of safe return ended in tragedy,” she said in a statement, calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.Police said joint teams had been searching along the boundary of Kangpokpi and Senapati districts for the missing men.“An extensive search operation was conducted today by joint teams comprising the Manipur Police, CoBRA, CRPF, Assam Rifles and RAF in the general area east of NH-2, along the SP Road,” police said.SP Road is a hilly stretch connecting the two districts. Police said the necessary legal formalities were being completed following the recovery of the bodies.FRESH DEATHS AMID ETHNIC VIOLENCEThe discovery came a day after three members of the Kuki community were killed in a gunfight between rival armed groups in Noney district, according to police.More than 50 people have been killed and dozens of houses burnt across Tamenglong, Noney, Kamjong, Ukhrul and Kangpokpi districts since clashes between Kuki and Naga communities began in February this year.Manipur had earlier witnessed ethnic violence between Meiteis based in the Imphal Valley and Kukis living in the adjoining hills.

More than 300 people were killed, 49 remained missing and thousands were left homeless in that violence.- Ends