Naga and Kuki organisations traded allegations over armed attacks in Ukhrul district, while both sides accused security forces and sought urgent intervention.
Imphal, May 27: Fresh tensions have emerged in Manipur’s Ukhrul district after Naga and Kuki civil society groups issued strongly worded statements accusing each other of launching armed attacks on civilian villages, while also raising serious allegations against security forces.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Laho Litan Village Authority alleged that the Tangkhul Naga villages of Leingangching (Laho), Litan and Sharkaphung came under an “unprovoked and sustained assault” from the direction of Mongkot Chepu Kuki village on the night of May 26.
According to the statement, firing with “automatic and sophisticated weapons” began at around 10:22 pm and created panic among civilians, including women, children and elderly residents. The village authority claimed the attack posed a grave threat to civilian life and accused unidentified armed groups of directly targeting populated areas.
The statement further alleged that instead of neutralising the attackers, some security personnel fired live rounds towards Naga civilians who were defending their villages. It claimed that ammunition was discharged within village perimeters, describing the alleged action as a serious breach of constitutional protections and humanitarian norms.
The village authority demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities and called for an independent judicial inquiry into both the alleged attack and the conduct of security personnel. It also sought deployment of what it described as “neutral peacekeeping forces” in the affected villages, arguing that the existing security arrangement had failed to ensure civilian safety.
The organisation further demanded strict legal action against any individuals, including security personnel, found responsible for unlawful firing on civilians. Calling for urgent intervention, the statement appealed to the Government of Manipur, the Union Government, the National Human Rights Commission and other human rights bodies to address the situation.
Meanwhile, the Kuki CSO Working Committee issued a counter statement strongly condemning what it described as a “coordinated and indiscriminate armed assault” on Mongkot Chepu village in Ukhrul district. The organisation alleged that the Kuki-Zo settlement came under sustained attack from multiple directions on the evening of May 26.
According to the committee, firing allegedly originated from armed positions near Litan Sareikhong-Tangkhul Police Station and the Sikibung-Lilen Ridge area beginning around 6:48 pm. It claimed the attack continued for more than four hours and involved the use of mortars and other sophisticated weapons until around 11:08 pm.
Describing the incident as a “grave security failure,” the organisation alleged that repeated attacks on Mongkot Chepu reflected a growing pattern of aggression targeting Kuki-Zo settlements located in fringe areas of Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
The committee questioned the effectiveness of the existing security arrangement and accused the government of remaining “administratively paralysed” despite repeated incidents. The statement also alleged that continued silence from both the state and central governments had deepened fear and insecurity among Kuki-Zo residents.
Warning that public confidence in the neutrality of the State could erode further, the organisation urged the authorities to undertake immediate intervention to prevent escalation. The committee said the government must either guarantee basic security to vulnerable civilian populations or make alternative arrangements for their protection.
It further remarked that the government risked being remembered for merely “distributing ballistic vests and helmets” to civilians instead of ensuring their constitutional right to life and safety. The organisation demanded immediate operational measures to secure vulnerable settlements and prevent further violence in the region.
The latest exchange of allegations comes amid continuing ethnic tensions and sporadic violence in parts of Manipur, particularly in fringe areas where communities remain heavily dependent on security deployments for protection.
There was no immediate official statement from the Government of Manipur, police authorities or security agencies regarding the allegations made by either side at the time of filing this report.
