Kuki Village Near CRPF Camp Comes Under Attack; Two Injured, Houses Torched; KIM Condemns Attack, Seeks Accountability

A fresh spell of violence rocked Manipur's hill districts on Sunday after Thingkhongjang Kuki Village, situated in the rugged hilly terrain along the route of the Jiribam–Imphal railway line under Kangchup Geljang Sub Division of Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district, allegedly came under a coordinated armed attack, leaving a woman and a child injured and several houses reportedly set ablaze.

According to local residents, the attack began at around 5:00 pm, when most villagers had gathered at the village church for the regular Sunday worship service.

Villagers alleged that heavily armed cadres belonging to the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K, both predominantly Tangkhul- and Zeliangrong-based insurgent groups, attacked the village using sophisticated weapons and hurling bombs, triggering panic among civilians.

The assault reportedly resulted in injuries to a child and a woman, while several houses were later set on fire by the assailants before they retreated, residents claimed.

Among the two injured, one sustained a gunshot wound to her thigh, with the bullet reportedly remaining lodged in the limb at the time of evacuation, according to local sources.

The injured persons were subsequently evacuated by personnel of the Assam Rifles to the New Keithelmanbi Assam Rifles camp for medical treatment, sources said.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Kuki-Zo villagers who rushed to Thingkhongjang to assist the affected residents were reportedly prevented by CRPF personnel from entering the village, leading to a brief confrontation, locals alleged.

Thingkhongjang is located near Tupul village, with Sehjang Kuki Village being its nearest Kuki settlement.

The incident has sparked outrage among Kuki-Zo community leaders, who questioned the apparent failure of security forces to prevent the attack despite the presence of an F/86 Battalion of the CRPF, stationed barely a stone's throw from the village.

The Kuki-Zo community leaders alleged that it was deeply concerning that armed militants were able to carry out a prolonged attack involving explosives and automatic weapons in close proximity to a security camp without any timely intervention.

They also alleged that the attackers, despite professing the Christian faith, displayed complete disregard for the sanctity of Sunday worship by allegedly exploiting the time when villagers had gathered for church services to unleash the terror strike, describing the violence as a betrayal of the very principles the perpetrators claim to profess.

They demanded an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident, enhanced security for vulnerable Kuki villages, and decisive action against those responsible for the attack.

Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex of the Kuki tribes in Manipur, vehemently condemned the armed attack on Thingkhongjang village, describing it as a "barbaric" act of terror against civilians and demanding immediate accountability for what it termed a grave security failure.

KIM alleged that armed cadres of the NSCN-IM and its alleged proxy faction ZUF-Kamson (ZUF-K) carried out the evening attack on the Kuki village under K. Geljang Sub-Division, setting several civilian houses ablaze and opening indiscriminate fire that left a woman and a child seriously injured.

The organisation described the assault on an unarmed civilian settlement as "nothing less than an act of terror against innocent people" and said it constituted a serious assault on human dignity and the rule of law.

Questioning the role of security forces, KIM expressed concern that the attack allegedly took place despite the presence of an F Company of the 86th Battalion of the CRPF stationed in the vicinity.

"It is beyond comprehension that heavily armed militants could infiltrate the area, unleash violence upon civilians, torch homes, injure women and children, and withdraw without decisive intervention," KIM statement said, terming the incident a "monumental security failure" that warranted the highest level of scrutiny and accountability.

The organisation further recalled repeated public assurances by the Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Kangpokpi that the safety and security of villages in the district were the responsibility of the administration.

It also referred to an understanding with the Manipur Government under which district police were expected to ensure the protection of Kuki villages, asserting that those assurances now stood "shattered" in the wake of the latest attack.

KIM demanded immediate accountability from officers whose alleged negligence or failure of command may have contributed to the incident, pending the outcome of an independent judicial inquiry.

It called for a transparent, impartial and time-bound investigation to establish the sequence of events, identify those responsible for any operational lapses and ensure appropriate legal and disciplinary action.

The organisation also urged both the Centre and the Manipur Government to take immediate measures to restore public confidence, warning that repeated security failures and delayed responses would only embolden armed groups and further erode trust in State institutions.

"The people will no longer accept empty promises, administrative silence or delayed responses while innocent families continue to suffer," KIM said, asserting that those constitutionally entrusted with protecting the lives and property of citizens must discharge their responsibilities or be held accountable.