Tangkhul Naga Long Rebuts Statement Made By Kuki CSOs Working Committee, Ukhrul

The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long has explicitly dismissed the claim made by the Kuki CSO Working Committee -Ukhrul on April 16 regarding the presence of NSCN (IM) under Col. Chipemi in Sinakeithel village.

TNL declared that there is no such person by the name in Sinakeithei village, Ukhrul District.Since the start of the attack of Sinakeithei village by Kuki cadres under SoO pact and other illegal militants in late February, the village has been guarded only by the village volunteers says TNL in a release issued on Friday .

Owing to the continued unprovoked attacks on the village by Kuki cadres under SoO , state forces, 131 Battalion BSF and 4 Mahar Regiment were later stationed in the village to safeguard the innocent civilians.

As such, the tactic of the Kuki CSO Working committee to use made up names and create false narratives fall flat in the face. Such tactics has also been recently used by the committee in their press statement on the 10th of Aprill where their allegations were found to be completely fabricated, the release added.

TNL alleged that Sinakeithei village has been under incessant attacks by Kuki cadres under SoO, illegal Kuki militants, Kuki VVGs and narco-terrorists, overseen by Selpu Doungel, a citizen of Dongsum Kuki village, who had openly threatened the Sinakeithei Village Authority that "Sinakeithei would face the full might of Kuki militants".

In line with the threat, the Kuki armed groups have been strengthening their position around Lungter Hills and constantly transporting arms, ammunitions and militants to attack Sinakelthel, using a road that was sanctioned on humanitarian grounds by the village, the Tangkhul body added.

As such, the road in question, Leplen-Tingpibung, was de-sanctioned by the village authority, von March 12, 2026, to halt the movement and intration of illegal militants, Kuki SoO groups, Kuki WGs and narco-terrorists, to safeguard both the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki civilians stated the release.

TNL stated that the de sanctioning of the road was carried out by the Sinakeithei Village Authority under the legal provisions of the Article 371C of the Indian Constitution and the Manipur Village Authorities Act 1956.

Consequently, any movement in the road has been monitored by the Village Volunteers. However, on no occasion have the Village Volunteers stooped as low as to fire at civilians escorted by Security Forces as claimed by the Kuki CSOs Working Committee, TNL stated while adding that the claim is completely unfounded and false.

TNL claimed that troughout the conflict, the Tangkhul Nagas have always maintained a defensive stance while the Kukis have been repeatedly attacking the Tangkhul Nagas left, right and center.

Despite this, the Kuki CSOs working committee have the audacity to constantly shift the narrative towards the Tangkhul Nagas as the perpetrators, the relase stated. TNL added that the Kukis should not play victim in the ongoing ethnic conflict when it was them who lit the fire in the first place and continue to fan the flames of conflict without any remorse or moral judgement.

Kuki CSO Working Committee on April 16 issued a statement raising serious concern over the repeated Tangkhul militants attacks on commuters along the Leplen-Tingpibung stretch from Sinakeithel Tangkhul village.

The committee stated that on April 15 multiple intermittent firings were reported and on April 16 unprovoked firing resumed from around 4 in the evening, including targeted attacks on a civilian convoy escorted by security forces.

Disturbingly, neither the security personnel stationed at Sinakeithel nor those escorting the convoy made any visible effort to stop or retaliate, stated the release. Such continued inaction of security forces has effectively turned the Leplen-Tingpibung stretch into a free firing zone, emboldening cadres of NSCN (IM) under Col. Chipemi and the self declared armed village volunteers of Sinakeithel.

The committee demands immediate accountability, a clear response from the government, and the replacement of the currently deployed forces including army, BSF and 6 MR with the Assam Rifles to ensure civilian safety.