“Peace Demands Action Now”: KCSOWC Issues Urgent Call Amid Alleged Coordinated Firing Incidents in Ukhrul Fringe Area

With a stark warning that “peace demands action now,” the Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul has sounded the alarm over a series of coordinated firing incidents that have shaken Manipur's Ukhrul-Kangpokpi Fringe areas including Litan Sareikhong and adjoining areas, urging immediate intervention to prevent a dangerous escalation into broader communal unrest.

In a statement, the Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul called upon responsible stakeholders within the Tangkhul community—including civil society organisations—to take urgent and concrete steps to discourage actions that could further inflame tensions. Emphasizing that the situation has reached a critical juncture, the body cautioned that continued inaction could have far-reaching consequences for peace and stability in the region.

“Peace demands action now,” the committee said, warning that failure to act could lead to further deterioration of law and order in the region.

The appeal follows in the wake of a troubling sequence of incidents that unfolded across multiple locations on March 19, which the body described as coordinated violence rather than isolated clashes.

According to the statement, at around 3.15 pm, armed individuals allegedly opened fire near Mullam village, injuring a local farmer. The incident reportedly triggered retaliatory firing, leading to panic among residents.

In a separate incident around the same time, civilians engaged in electrical repair work near the Shongphel–Sinakeithel border areas were allegedly fired upon by armed Tangkhul volunteers, further heightening fear among local residents, it said.

As tensions mounted, another incident was reported at approximately 4:00 PM along the Leplen–Saikul road between Leplen and Tingpibung. Armed Tangkhul volunteers targeted civilian commuters, damaging vehicles and leaving several people stranded amid the unfolding violence.

The situation escalated further in the evening as armed Tangkhul volunteers opened fired towards Mongkot Chepu in Litan Sareikhong region at approximately 7 pm using automatic weapons, leading to continued exchanges and deepening instability, the statement said.

Taken together, it said, the incidents have raised serious concerns about a deliberate attempt to escalate tensions in the already sensitive Ukhrul–Kangpokpi fringe.

The committee also reiterated that while restraint has been exercised in the interest of peace, it must not be mistaken for weakness, stressing that the safety of civilians remains paramount.

There was no immediate response from officials regarding the incidents.