UKHRUL — Two Tangkhul Naga organisations on Thursday issued strongly-worded statements denying any involvement in the killing of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan at Mongkot Chepu in Ukhrul district, instead alleging that Kuki militant elements carried out the attack to disrupt a community peace meeting.

The Central Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Foothills' Organisation (TNFO) and the Naga youth body Khanuithot-Khon both issued press statements dated April 10, 2026, rejecting allegations circulated by the Kuki CSO Ukhrul (Ref. No. WC/22/26) that held Tangkhul Naga groups responsible for the attack.

The TNFO statement identified the deceased jawan as Shri Mithun Mandal, who, according to the organisation, was positioned near Mongkot Chepu close to a blacksmith shop and was facing east towards Sharkaphung when he was shot from behind — strongly indicating, the statement said, that the shot was fired from the western side, which it described as a "Kuki militants' bunker."

The statement further disputed claims made in the Kuki CSO statement regarding a red-roofed "Pharmila house" allegedly used by village volunteers, asserting that the location is occupied by state forces. It also denied the existence of any bunker at Kholkai hilltop.

TNFO's CWC criticised the Kuki CSO for issuing a statement ahead of any formal communication from the BSF itself, calling it "opportunistic" and warning that such actions risk creating a "misleading narrative" designed to pre-empt official findings.

Khanuithot-Khon, in its separate statement, said a large public meeting attended by community members and volunteers was underway from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the time of the incident, during which all volunteers were strictly mandated to maintain peace. The organisation said this accounted for the whereabouts of Tangkhul Naga volunteers during the period the attack allegedly took place.

The youth body described the incident as a "staged provocation" designed to maliciously incite enmity between Tangkhul volunteers and security forces, calling it a "tired tactic" employed repeatedly since the onset of the ethnic conflict in 2023.

Both organisations called on the government — including the Chief Minister, the Union Home Minister, and the Director General of Police — to conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the source of the firing.

Despite the competing narratives, both groups condemned the death of the BSF jawan and demanded accountability. TNFO said it "unequivocally condemns" the attack that occurred around 4:46 PM and called for swift delivery of justice.

No official statement had been issued by the BSF or state authorities at the time of publication.