20 Houses Burnt Down in Phaimuol Kuki Village; Phungyar MLA Says Village Was Deserted Weeks Ago

A combined team of suspected Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM and the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) launched a coordinated attack on Phaimuol Kuki Village in Kamjong District, Manipur, on July 1.

The attack occurred a day after the Assam Rifles vacated its security post at Phaimuol, leaving the village without security protection. According to sources, the militants entered the village and systematically set fire to twenty residential houses.

Sources stated that the entire village has been rendered uninhabitable, leading to the complete displacement of its residents.

Meanwhile, Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing said that Phaimuol Village had already been deserted weeks before the incident and that no one was living in the village.

The MLA said it is still not known who actually burnt down Phaimuol Village and that he has not received any information regarding the incident.

Leishiyo further said that eight houses in Kongkhan Thana and two to four adjoining market areas were burnt by suspected KNA-B militants who allegedly crossed over from the border.

He also stated that people in these areas have been receiving threats from KNA-B from time to time.

Stating that people in the area do not trust the Indian security forces, the MLA said that the most suitable security arrangement would be a neutral force, such as the Indian Reserve Battalion.