Fresh gunfire and alleged mortar attacks rocked the violence-hit IT Road in Kangpokpi district on Tuesday, with Kuki civil society groups and village authorities accusing NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) cadres, allegedly assisted by Liangmei village guards, of launching a series of attacks on Kuki settlements, while the Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers (KZVV), Twilang Lhang, warned that continued “provocation” could have serious consequences.
The latest escalation was reported from the Chaljang-Lhouthang-Twilang belt, barely a day after an attack on N. Teikhang village in which three civilians, including two women, were killed and several others injured, according to Kuki organisations.
The Chaljang Village Authority, in a statement, alleged that the village came under a heavy assault at around 8.05 am on Tuesday, with bombs reportedly fired towards the settlement, spreading panic among residents.
The authority alleged that the attack was carried out by a Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM armed group and its alleged proxy outfit, ZUF-K.
It described the assault as a deliberate attempt to “spread terror” among innocent civilians, particularly children, women and the elderly, and condemned it in the strongest terms.
The Chaljang Village Authority also alleged that forces deployed to protect civilians had “stood aside” rather than defend them.
“The trust is broken,” the authority said, while demanding immediate government intervention.
It called for the removal of the Central security force unit stationed at Makui, alleging that its presence had ceased to provide security and had instead become a source of fear for villagers.
The authority also demanded an immediate, transparent and impartial investigation into the attack and stringent legal action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, the Twilang Area Kuki CSO Coordinating Committee said another series of attacks took place between approximately 4.40 am and 8.45 am, reportedly originating from areas including Tapon, Theparam and Makui.
The committee alleged that the attacks targeted Kuki civilians and residential villages despite repeated appeals by Kuki civil society organisations for peace and restraint.
It said the alleged attacks on Lhouthang and Chaljang were particularly alarming as they reportedly occurred close to the CRPF station at Makui. The committee alleged that the attacks were carried out by NSCN-IM, ZUF(K) and Liangmei village guards.
The committee further alleged that indiscriminate firing took place and that three heavy mortar bombs were fired towards Chaljang, two of which reportedly exploded while another allegedly failed to detonate.
It said one civilian, identified as Lamkhojang, 25, of Lhouthang, sustained injuries in the firing.
The committee also questioned the conduct and security measures of the security forces deployed at Makui, citing four incidents it said required scrutiny, including an alleged denial of passage to an ambulance carrying deceased and injured persons at Lasan, alleged indiscriminate firing at village volunteers, an alleged firing incident at Langka and the reported mortar attack on Chaljang.
The latest allegations came just a day after the reported attack on N. Teikhang village on August 31, in which one man and two women were killed and several others injured, according to the CSO committee.
The committee alleged that the same groups were responsible for that attack as well.
The Twilang Area Kuki CSO Coordinating Committee appealed to the authorities to take immediate and impartial action to protect civilians and prevent further attacks, asserting that peaceful appeals and restraint “must not be mistaken for weakness”.
It said the safety and dignity of every civilian must be upheld and those responsible for violence and human rights violations must be held accountable.
The latest developments also prompted a stern warning from the Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers (KZVV), Twilang Lhang, which alleged that at around 4.50 am, a group comprising NSCN-IM and ZUF(K), allegedly assisted by Liangmei Village Guards, opened fire from the direction of Tapon village and Chawangkining.
The firing, it said, created panic, fear and insecurity among villagers.
The KZVV said its personnel were compelled to respond to protect villages and civilians from what it described as continuing threats from the alleged combined militant elements.
The village volunteers said the incident came barely a day after the reported attack on N. Teikhang village at around 8.45 am on August 31, where, according to the statement, two women were killed and three others critically injured.
“Any further attack, intimidation or deliberate provocation against Kuki-Zo civilians and villages will not be tolerated,” the KZVV said, warning those responsible that their actions would have consequences.
At the same time, the organisation appealed to the public and authorities to take immediate and effective measures to prevent further violence, protect vulnerable civilians and restore security and normalcy in the area.
The Twilang Area Kuki CSO Coordinating Committee likewise urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint, stressing that peaceful appeals should not be interpreted as acceptance of attacks or human rights violations.
It said the repeated targeting of unarmed civilians, particularly women, highlighted what it described as a grave human rights situation in the IT Road area.
The successive statements have underscored the rapidly deteriorating security situation along the IT Road, where allegations of attacks, counter-responses and disputes over the conduct of security forces have intensified in recent days.
The Kuki organisations have called for immediate and impartial intervention by the authorities, insisting that civilians must be protected and perpetrators of violence held accountable
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
