Kuki Village G. Shongmun in Ukhrul District Under Attack on Night of April 22

On the night of April 22, G. Shongmun, a Kuki-inhabited village under Ukhrul district, came under heavy attack involving automatic weapons and explosives, allegedly by Tangkhul militants.

As per the Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, the incident occurred around 11 pm, forcing the villagers to flee for their lives.

The committee stated that the continued inaction and apparent indifference of the government toward Kuki civilians in the Litan area and villages surrounding Sinakeithei have now persisted for over two months.

The committee added that the situation is deteriorating and has begun to spread to other parts of Manipur, where incidents such as the manhandling of women under the pretext of shutdowns have been reported.

Instead of taking deterrent measures to prevent escalation and protect civilians, it is alleged that the security forces deployed at Sinakeithel failed to respond effectively.

Raising serious concerns regarding the conduct and responsiveness of the authorities, the committee stated that the situation in Mongkot Chepu has worsened significantly, wherein targeted firing was directed at civilians moving to and from church, as well as individuals stepping outside their homes on April 19.

It was further stated that in the early hours of April 20, even children stepping outside were reportedly subjected to targeted firing. On the same day, at around 5:30 in the evening, the chief's residence was hit by a sniper shot, followed by intermittent firing on April 21.

As a result, residents of Mongkot Chepu are effectively confined to their homes under constant threat of gunfire, the release added.

As per the committee, there is growing concern that decisions relating to law and order are being influenced by dominant narratives rather than objective ground assessments.

It is imperative to ascertain whether decisions are being based on verified inputs from official agencies or on unverified narratives circulating through other channels, the release stated.

Stating that the government must clearly outline its position and the measures being taken, the committee said the perception that Kuki communities in Ukhrul district are being overlooked in the broader management of the situation is gaining ground.

The release stated that there is an urgent need for strong and neutral intervention to protect civilians, accountability for any lapses in duty, and assurance that all communities are treated with fairness and equality.

Patience among affected communities is diminishing, and there is little tolerance for continued inaction or ineffective assurances, it added.