Mongkot Chepu Village Attacked Following Drone Sightings, Kuki CSO Alleges Planned Assault

Days after sightings of unauthorised drones over the farming, forest, and residential areas of Mongkot Chepu village, the village came under an unprovoked and strategic attack on May 21 at around 2 p.m.

As per the Kuki CSO Working Committee Ukhrul, the village was subjected to heavy firing, compelling the village volunteers of Mongkot Chepu to retaliate in self-defence, resulting in an exchange of fire that continued until approximately 5:30 p.m.

The committee stated that the attackers, allegedly associated with NSCN (EF), used high-grade weapons, including heavy ammunition and lethal bombs, indicating a level of preparation inconsistent with any spontaneous confrontation.

Mongkot Chepu villagers had earlier informed authorities about unauthorised drone sightings over the farming, forest, and residential areas of the village on May 19 and 20, the origin of which the committee claimed was traced to Sikibung @ Sharkaphung village.

Raising serious concerns regarding surveillance, intent, and operational coordination preceding the assault, the committee also condemned the circulation of an AI-generated image falsely portraying Sikibung @ Sharkaphung village as being under heavy attack by Kuki militants armed with sophisticated weapons.

The committee stated that the images had since been circulated widely across social media, accompanied by appeals directed at the Government of India, security forces, and Naga civil society organisations immediately after the incident.

“Such attempts to distort facts and portray the aggressor as the victim have unfortunately become an observable pattern among certain sections in Ukhrul and Kamjong and are deeply irresponsible and dangerously misleading in an already volatile situation,” the committee stated.

The committee further stated that appropriate legal action, including defamation proceedings, would be pursued if Sikibung @ Sharkaphung village or any associated individuals or groups continued disseminating fabricated allegations, defamatory content, or false propaganda falsely branding Kuki villagers as militants without evidence.

“As the enduring moral of ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’ reminds us, those who repeatedly manufacture fear and falsehood for strategic gain eventually lose credibility, even when genuine danger arrives. In fragile times, weaponising misinformation is not merely hypocrisy — it is dangerous,” the release stated.