The Assam Rifles has been targeted by the Manipur state police and the Meitei community for protecting the Kukis, while the state police is itself seen to be working in cahoots with the majority Meitei community.
The eldest of three siblings, 30-year-old Haominthang Chongloi, helped his father, a watchman at a nearby church, in his job and was very active in local sports clubs. He disappeared on May 4 from his village, Leimakhong.