Naga Civil Society Demands Return of Severed Head in Manipur

The Joint Tribes Council Manipur (JTC) issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the return of the severed head of 52-year-old Ajinbou R., a Naga man. Ajinbou R. was allegedly killed by armed groups in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, and his headless body was brought to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal for post-mortem on Sunday night, October 11, 2026. A video purportedly showing his severed head among armed militants went viral on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The JTC stated that the post-mortem would not be conducted until the head is returned for a dignified burial. Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh condemned the killings and appealed for peace on October 11, 2026, instructing authorities to take immediate steps to control the situation, leading to the deployment of additional security forces and imposition of prohibitory orders.

This ultimatum follows a fresh wave of violence in Manipur, which saw at least nine people killed in separate firing incidents across Kamjong, Ukhrul, and Kangpokpi districts on Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10, 2026. The violence also resulted in approximately 14 houses being set ablaze. The recent violence is part of a larger pattern of ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, which has persisted for decades, with a major escalation beginning in May 2023 primarily between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.