Girl Shot In Broad Daylight As Civilians Come Under Fire In Ukhrul Fringe

In a deeply alarming escalation of violence in Manipur’s hill districts, a young girl sustained a gunshot injury after alleged unprovoked firing targeted civilians in Mongkot Chepu village on Monday afternoon by Tangkhul armed volunteers, triggering widespread outrage and urgent calls for intervention.

According to a statement issued by the Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, the incident occurred at approximately 1:07 PM when villagers—including women—were engaged in routine agricultural work in the Lengthei Mol farming area, barely 500–600 meters from the main settlement. Without warning, the Tangkhul armed volunteers reportedly opened indiscriminate fire from an elevated hilltop position across the Thoubal River, turning a peaceful farming zone into a scene of chaos and terror.

The minor, whose identity has not been disclosed, is reported to have been struck amid the sudden barrage of gunfire. More than 20 villagers were trapped in open fields, unable to flee to safety as bullets continued to rain down. The attackers deliberately targeted unarmed villagers, exposing them to life-threatening danger.

The trapped farmers along with the injured girl were later rescued and evacuated in the evening by the army.

Condemning the attack in the strongest terms, the Committee described the incident as “a grave and inhumane act” and part of a disturbing pattern of repeated assaults on innocent civilians in the region. The statement warned that continued inaction could embolden perpetrators and lead to further loss of innocent lives.

The Committee has placed urgent demands before the government and security agencies, calling for:

1). Immediate cessation of firing and safe evacuation of all stranded villagers;

2). Securing of the Ukhrul highway and nearby areas to prevent further civilian casualties;

3). Launch of comprehensive combing operations in suspected locations to neutralize armed elements;

4). Strict accountability and exemplary action against those responsible.

“This is not merely an attack on a village—it is an assault on humanity and civilian dignity,” the statement asserted, urging authorities to act decisively before the situation spirals into a larger tragedy.

As tensions continue to mount, the minor girl’s injury has become a grim symbol of the growing vulnerability of civilians caught in the crossfire, underscoring the urgent need for immediate and effective state intervention.