Manipur: Senapati firing toll rises to three after a hospital death

The death toll from a suspected militant gun attack in Manipur's Senapati district rose to three on Sunday, 27 September 2026, after an injured man died in hospital, officials said. The Hindu and India Today NE reported that.

Ashiho Sani, 49, died at a private hospital at about 3 am, officials said. His body was taken to the Senapati district hospital for a post-mortem. Ukhrul Times said he was from Shajouba. The Hindu said he had been injured a day earlier, with another man.

On Saturday, suspected militants shot dead two Naga civilians and injured two others, The Hindu reported. India Today NE used the same words, "suspected militants," and said the toll reached three when one of the injured died. Those killed at the spot were named as Rocky from Chaowainamai and Kumar from Laii Shirafii. Ukhrul Times gave the names as K. Rocky Osanah of Chowainamai Khullen and Kh. Kumar of Laii Shirafii, and said they died on the spot. Adani Manio, 33, was still under treatment, India Today NE said. Ukhrul Times said he is from Makhel and was taken to GetWell Hospital.

The place name differs. India Today NE said the firing was at Kalenjang on Saturday afternoon, that police and security personnel reached the spot, and that an investigation was under way. Ukhrul Times spelled it Kailengjang. A related line on that site used Kalengjang. This report does not pick a spelling.

India Today NE said reports had alleged that armed Kuki groups were involved, and that the claim had not been independently verified. The Hindu's account of this attack says suspected militants and does not name a group. No group is treated here as identified. The reports do not give a motive.

The Hindu said the killings came barely an hour before the United Naga Council said it would suspend a four-month economic blockade on national highways. India Today NE said they came hours before that announcement. It described the council as the apex Naga body in the state.

Former chief minister N. Biren Singh condemned the deaths. The Hindu quoted his post: "The killing of Rocky from Chaowainamai village and Kumar from Laii Shirafii village is a matter of grave concern. Armed militants entered their homes and shot them dead while they were asleep. These were civilians who deserved to live without fear." India Today NE said he alleged they were shot at home while asleep, and that he put killings in the state this year at more than 60. That is his post, not a police finding in these reports.

Ukhrul Times said a condolence service was held at Traffic Point in Senapati at 11 am on Sunday, with speakers from Naga student, women's and youth groups, and that the bodies were expected to go to their villages afterwards. It said Naga organisations and local sources put Naga civilian deaths in what it called the ongoing Naga-Kuki conflict at 26. That figure is theirs. It is not an official toll in the other two reports.

The Hindu reported a separate attack on the night of 24 September: four Tangkhul Naga civilians shot dead by suspected militants from Myanmar at Pilong in Kamjong, near the border. India Today NE said four Tangkhul Naga civilians were killed at Pilong in a separate attack, and did not, in this copy, attribute it to militants from Myanmar. The Hindu said at least 13 people were killed in September in gun attacks allegedly by suspected militants in Tamenglong, Kangpokpi, Noney and Kamjong. India Today NE named the same four districts for that count.

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India Today NE said the investigation was under way. Officials said Sani's body had gone for post-mortem and that Adani Manio was still being treated. Ukhrul Times said the three bodies were expected to be taken to their villages after Sunday's service.