Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 24
In a suspected inter-factional killing, one person was shot dead in Mon district on January 23. According to the Mon police, the deceased victim’s body was found near the Sangsa junction, Tizit at around 7:30 to 8:00 pm.
The deceased, identified as Manwang Leipha (43 years), was a Major in the NSCN-K (Yung Aung). He had recently been released from prison, on bail, in connection to a 2025 case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 147, and section 7 and 8 of the Nagaland Security Regulation (NSR). He was a Tizit resident, originally hailing from Longphaoh village.
The Mon police said that the situation in the area was under control, and on the lookout for the shooters. “We have got some crucial leads in this case. Investigation is going on. We are hopeful of apprehending the accused soon,” a Mon police official said.
The killing comes in the backdrop of the recent clashes between the NSCN-K (Yung Aung) and NSCN-K (Ang Mai-Mulatonu) across the international border in the Pangsaung area of the Naga Self-Administered Zone, Sagaing, Myanmar.
Konyak CSOs condemn
The Konyak Union (KU) has strongly condemned the killing. In a press statement, the KU expressed outrage over the incident, noting it directly violates the historic 2007 Tuensang summit resolution.
The resolution, affirmed by the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) and Eastern Naga National Worker’s Forum (ENNWF), declared “the entire Eastern jurisdiction a “peace zone,” prohibiting bloodshed, threats, and violence. The KU warned that any group or individual responsible for such acts would face total public non-cooperation.
Describing the killing as a “cruel and deliberate violation” of decades of peace-building, the KU extended condolences to the victim's family. It further announced a decision taken by its Executive Council and Advisory Board to convene an ‘All Konyak Naga Political Group Summit’ in Mon town.
According to it, the summit will focus on advocacy, unity, and reconciliation among factions. It sought cooperation from all stakeholders, including Indian security agencies, to ensure lasting peace and development.
In a separate statement, the Longphaoh Citizens’ forum said that the incident contradicts resolutions passed by the ENPO and Konyak Union aimed at ending bloodshed. According to the forum, Leipha was killed at his residence in Tizit village, on January 23, in the presence of his family.
The statement noted that the violence occurred while these organizations are engaged in resolving Naga political issues.
Signed by representatives of the Longphaoh Citizens, Village Council, and Student’s Union, the note demanded a thorough investigation by law enforcement agencies. It called on NGOs and the public to support efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, asserting that such acts threaten the peace and security of the society. The forum also expressed solidarity with the victim's family.
