Leikot village in Manipur's Noney district was set ablaze in an early morning attack, while Kuki organisations alleged NSCN (IM) involvement and demanded an impartial investigation.
Imphal, July 3: Houses in Leikot village in Manipur's Noney district were set on fire during an early morning attack on Thursday, according to statements issued by Kuki organisations, which alleged that the assault was carried out by suspected NSCN (IM) militants. No casualties were reported in the incident.
According to the organisations, the attack occurred between 5 a.m. and 5.30 a.m., when heavily armed assailants allegedly entered the village and set houses and properties ablaze. They claimed that village volunteers, equipped only with licensed single-barrel firearms, attempted to defend the village but were forced to retreat because of the attackers' superior firepower.
The organisations said all villagers fled the area following the attack and that the incident caused extensive damage to houses and other property. The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate statement from the Manipur Police, security agencies or the organisations named in the allegations.
Addressing a press conference at the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) office in Churachandpur on Thursday afternoon, KIM spokesperson David Haokip condemned the incident and described attacks on civilian settlements as unacceptable.
He alleged that the attack had displaced all residents of Leikot village and left them traumatised. He also urged the authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into the incident and bring those responsible to justice.
Separately, the Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong and Noney (JTN) alleged that the attack was carried out by suspected NSCN (IM) militants. The organisation claimed the attackers used automatic weapons and mortar shells before setting the village on fire, causing extensive damage.
Condemning what it described as an "unprovoked act of aggression" against civilians, Kuki Inpi JTN called for immediate intervention by the Central Government, the Manipur Government and security agencies.
The organisation demanded a thorough and impartial investigation, identification of those responsible and strengthened security deployment in vulnerable areas to prevent similar incidents.
Kuki Inpi JTN also questioned what it described as inadequate security arrangements in parts of Noney district, alleging that repeated security lapses had allowed such incidents to recur. It said ensuring the safety of civilians remained the government's foremost responsibility.
During the press conference, David Haokip also expressed concern over the alleged misuse of KIM's official letterhead in the name of the organisation's General Secretary, Paotinthang Lupheng. He urged the concerned authorities to investigate the matter alongside the reported attack on Leikot village.
Referring to past ethnic violence, Haokip claimed that more than 900 Kuki civilians were killed, around 360 Kuki villages were uprooted and thousands displaced during violence in the 1990s. He alleged that the suffering of the Kuki community had continued beyond that period and said the present incident reflected unresolved security concerns.
KIM further alleged that the burning of 13 Kuki villages and the deaths of Kuki civilians in recent attacks by NSCN (IM) and the ZUF (Kamson Group) should be viewed in the broader context of violence experienced by the community since the 1990s.
The organisation also alleged that an economic blockade affecting Kuki communities for more than a month had disrupted the movement of food and essential commodities, describing it as "economic strangulation."
Reaffirming its support for the affected residents, Kuki Inpi JTN said it stood with the people of Leikot village and would continue to advocate for the rights, security and dignity of the Kuki community.
At the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the Manipur Government, Manipur Police, security agencies, NSCN (IM) or ZUF (Kamson Group) regarding the allegations made by the two Kuki organisations.
