A villager from Joujangtek in Manipur's Noney district was injured in a firing incident while working in farmland. Local civil society organisations have condemned the attack and demanded accountability.
Noney, June 19: A resident of Joujangtek village in Noney district sustained gunshot injuries after unknown gunmen opened fire on villagers working in their farmlands on Thursday, triggering fear among residents and drawing condemnation from several civil society organisations in the area.
The injured villager has been identified as Nohjang Haokip, a resident of Joujangtek village under Noney subdivision. He reportedly suffered bullet injuries to his right arm and chest during the incident.
According to local reports, a group of villagers were engaged in routine farming activities in fields near the village around noon when armed men allegedly began firing multiple rounds in their direction. During the firing, Nohjang was struck by bullets and injured.
He was immediately evacuated to a nearby Assam Rifles medical facility for treatment. His condition was not immediately known.
The incident reportedly occurred in an area close to Joujangtek village, which lies along the Imphal-Khoupum Road and hosts a camp of the 19 Assam Rifles.
The firing has left villagers shaken, with many expressing concern over their safety while carrying out daily livelihood activities in agricultural fields and surrounding hill areas.
Following the incident, several civil society organisations from the Leimata area issued a joint condemnation statement denouncing the attack and demanding action against those responsible.
The statement was jointly issued by the Leimata Area Chief Association (LACA), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) Leimata Block, Kuki Khanglai Lawmpi (KKL) Leimata Block, Leimata Area Youth Sporting Association (LAYSA) and the Kuki Women Union (KWU) Leimata.
The organisations alleged that the firing was carried out by militants belonging to the NSCN-IM from the Nungsai-Chingkao area. However, no official confirmation regarding the identity of the attackers had been issued by authorities at the time of reporting.
The organisations stated that Nohjang Haokip was unarmed and engaged in normal farming activities when he was injured.
In the statement, the groups described the incident as an unacceptable act of violence against civilians and said such attacks pose a threat to peace, harmony and mutual trust among communities in the region.
"The Kuki community residing in the area has consistently upheld the principle of peaceful coexistence with all communities. It is deeply unfortunate and unacceptable that such acts of violence have been directed at civilians," the statement said.
The joint organisations demanded immediate accountability for those responsible for the firing and called for enhanced protection for villagers, particularly farmers and civilians living near community boundary areas.
They also urged authorities to take concrete steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The organisations reiterated their commitment to peace and appealed to all sections of society to uphold the value of human life and support efforts to restore confidence among affected villagers.
"Silence in the face of injustice will only embolden further aggression," the statement said.
While social media posts and local organisations have attributed the attack to specific armed elements, no official statement from police, security agencies or district authorities had been issued by the time of filing this report.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the firing and establish the identity of those involved.
The incident comes amid continuing concerns over security in parts of Noney district, where residents in remote villages often depend on farming and forest-based livelihoods.
For villagers of Joujangtek, Thursday's incident has heightened fears about working in farmlands that form the backbone of their daily sustenance.
