The C. Kholen Village Authority has strongly condemned what it described as an “unprovoked firing and deadly attack” on farmers from the village at their farm house on Friday morning, alleging the involvement of the Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM.
According to the village authority, the incident occurred at around 7:50 AM on August 28, when armed persons allegedly opened fire on farmers working at their farm. The farmers escaped unharmed, it said.
The village authority said the repeated targeting of Kuki civilians and their ancestral land cannot be justified under any circumstances, warning that such violence threatens peace and communal harmony in the region.
“The glorification of violence cannot be justified under any circumstances,” the authority said, urging the government to take immediate measures to protect the lives, property and land of villagers.
The authority demanded the deployment of adequate Central forces in the area, saying heightened security was essential to protect civilians amid recurring incidents of violence.
It also appealed to the Government of India to review the ongoing peace talks with the NSCN-IM, alleging that armed cadres were moving freely and intimidating “peace-loving innocent Kuki” civilians.
Calling for restraint and dialogue, the C. Kholen Village Authority appealed to the neighbouring Khamson Village Authority to engage in constructive dialogue to ensure peaceful coexistence rather than allow the situation to descend into further “firing and bloodshed”.
The authority reiterated that it remained committed to peaceful co-existence, while urging the authorities to ensure that civilians and their ancestral lands are adequately protected.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
