Foiled Attack Exposes Escalating Targeting of Kuki Villages in Ukhrul District

The Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, on Monday claimed that a fresh attempt to target a Kuki village was “successfully foiled,” barely days after the reported attack on Mulam village.

In a strongly worded statement, the committee asserted that the “question of who is driving conflict in the region is no longer rhetorical,” alleging that recent ground developments point to a clear and disturbing pattern.

According to the statement, credible local inputs on April 28 indicated the presence of suspected Tangkhul militant elements along the Kampa Mol (Mount Compass) ridge area—described as shared cultivated land belonging to Kuki villages including Yaolen Chepu, Mongkot Chepu, Lamlai Chingphei and Mulam.

Acting on the inputs, Kuki village volunteers reportedly launched a preventive patrol within their own jurisdiction “with the legitimate objective of securing their land and ensuring civilian safety” amid what they termed as repeated threats and incursions.

The committee claimed that during the patrol, volunteers encountered armed intruders already inside Kuki village territory, leading to a confrontation and an exchange of fire around 11:10 AM. No immediate reports of casualties were mentioned.

The statement raised “serious and unavoidable questions” over what it described as a contradiction between public narratives and ground realities. It alleged that while certain Tangkhul CSO leaders continue to portray themselves as victims in the media, the repeated presence of armed elements within Kuki areas tells a different story.

“How do such claims reconcile with continued incursions and aggressive actions on the ground?” the statement questioned, pointing to what it termed a “stark disparity” between calls for peace and alleged acts of intimidation.

The committee further alleged that such developments indicate a “deliberate attempt to distort realities” while enabling or overlooking actions aimed at forcibly targeting Kuki villages.

Reiterating its stance, the organisation said it remains committed to peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, but warned that peace “cannot be one-sided” or sustained under persistent threats.

“While peace remains our preference, the defence of our land, our rights, and our people is non-negotiable,” the statement added.