Tangkhul Naga Long blames Kuki militants for attack on Tangkhul civilians

The Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has stated that the brutal attack on civilians near Yaolen Kuki village is beyond words for anyone to describe the savagery of the Kukis.

“The Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) is extremely infuriated over the brutal attack on civilians near Yaolen Kuki village at around 2.35pm on Saturday by Kuki SoO cadres resulting to the dead of two Tangkhul Naga civilians, Chinaoshang Shokwungnao (45 years), son of Ruichumhao Shokwungnao, a retired Indian army cadre of the Naga Regiment from Tashar village and Yaruingam Vashum (42), son of Thuimi Vashum of Kharasom CC village” says TNL in a release issued on Saturday.

TNL claimed that ever since the conflict between the Tangkhul Nagas and the Kukis started in early February, Kuki militants have been openly attacking civilians in Litan, Laho, Sinakeithei, Sikibung and Thawal.

The Tangkhul body stated that the passengers including women, children and alling persons were travelling from Imphal to Ukhrul and had traversed through Mahadev and Litan with the help of security escorts.

The attack was carried out as soon as the escort team had returned towards Litan. As many as six (6) vehicles were travelling and hit by the Kuki militants who advertently resorted to targeting the civilians with snipers and other sophisticated long-range rifles stated the release.

The apathetic silence of the State and Central forces, who have openly allowed the atrocities of the feral Kukis to continue unchecked, has emboldened the Kuki militants to carry out such an inhuman attack, stated the release.

TNL added that the inability of the security forces to comb out illegal militants and to undertake area domination exercises begs the question on whether the security forces are incompetent or simply complicit with the Kuki militants.

“As such, the responsibility for the dead of the two martyrs now lies solely in the hands of the State and the Central Government”, the release stated.

Stating that the grave incident that happened just a day after the visit of Chief Minister Y Khemchand to Ukhrul and after his official assurance of providing Rop along the Highway and Security Escort, TNL added that the incident today clearly highlights the power and the integrity of the State Government into serious question.

TNL demands the State Government to immediately undertake a combing operation at Yaolen and adjoining Kuki villages.