Headless body, restless state: Frantic 48-hour hunt in Manipur

Amid the ongoing Kuki-Naga clashes, Ajinpou Ringkangmai, 52, was shot dead in Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district allegedly by Kuki militants.

The body was in a mortuary in Imphal. The severed head was somewhere in the jungles of Kangpokpi, 85 kilometres away. And a 48-hour ultimatum had put an already bruised state on the edge.

The killing has triggered outrage among Naga groups, for whom the removal of the victim’s head is not only a brutal act but also a humiliation to his community. (Sourced)

Authorities in Manipur heaved a sigh of relief on Wednesday after finding the head of a Naga man allegedly killed by Kuki militants, three hours before the 7pm deadline. Naga groups had warned of serious consequences if the remains were not returned.

“Security forces found the