Kuki CSOs Ukhrul hail bunker demolition, warn threat persists in Manipur’s Ukhrul

The Kuki Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Working Committee in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Thursday welcomed the joint combing operations carried out by security forces to dismantle fortified bunkers, but cautioned that the threat from armed militants remains far from over.

In a statement, the Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, expressed appreciation for the coordinated action by the 8 Bihar Regiment, Ukhrul Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), describing the simultaneous demolition of bunkers on both sides as a “wise and necessary step” to safeguard civilians, including schoolchildren.

The committee said it had been flagging for nearly two months the dangers posed by bunkers allegedly set up by Tangkhul militants, but claimed the concerns went largely unaddressed until casualties and destruction of property — including a school in Mongkot Chepu — forced decisive intervention.

“It is deeply regrettable that it took loss of lives and damage to residential houses for action to be initiated,” the statement said.

The Kuki CSOs Working Committee noted that the region witnessed a temporary halt in firing on March 25, offering brief relief to affected residents, but warned that fortified positions along the Thoubal riverbank — from Thoyee-Mahadev to Mongneljang — continue to pose a serious security risk.

They urged authorities to sustain the ongoing operations with “full momentum” to disarm militants and dismantle all remaining bunkers in the identified areas, stressing that this is crucial for restoring long-term security for Kuki villages and commuters along the Ukhrul National Highway.

Calling for impartial and sustained efforts, the committee said lasting peace and mutual trust among communities can only be achieved through consistent security measures and administrative action.