KZVV Sadar Hills Mourns Fallen Comrade, Accuses NSCN-IM, ZUF of Pre-Planned Attack in Sadar Hills

Fresh violence rocked Manipur's troubled Sadar Hills region on Saturday after a Kuki-Zo village volunteer was killed in what the Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers, Sadar Hills (KZVV-SH), described as a "deliberate, unprovoked and premeditated ambush" allegedly carried out by militants of the NSCN-IM and ZUF (Kamson faction) near Lasan village.

According to a statement issued by the KZVV-SH, the attack occurred at around 8:40 a.m. while its volunteers were engaged in security, vigilance and sensitisation duties in the vicinity of Lasan Kuki-Zo village.

The group identified the deceased as Jangngam Hangshing (39), a resident of Lhouthang village in Kangpokpi district, who was killed during the incident. Describing him as a "martyr," the organisation said he died while carrying out duties aimed at protecting Kuki-Zo villages amid the prevailing security tensions in the region.

The killing comes amid a fresh escalation of violence along the volatile inter-community border areas of Kangpokpi district, which have witnessed repeated armed confrontations and attacks in recent weeks.

The KZVV-SH accused the NSCN-IM and what it termed its "proxy" ZUF (Kamson faction) of posing a continuing threat to the lives and security of Kuki-Zo communities. The organisation asserted that it would not retreat from its mission of defending villages and safeguarding what it described as ancestral lands and community rights.

The group further warned that any individuals or entities found supporting or collaborating with the alleged attackers would face "decisive measures," signalling a hardening stance following the latest bloodshed.

Demanding accountability for the killing, the KZVV-SH said those responsible must be brought to justice and vowed to firmly resist any attempts to undermine the security of Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.

The organisation also paid tribute to the slain volunteer, describing his death as a sacrifice in defence of his people and homeland. It expressed condolences to the bereaved family and said his courage and service would be remembered by the community.

The latest fatality is expected to further deepen tensions in the region, where recurring attacks, retaliatory allegations and security concerns continue to fuel instability and fear among local residents.