Houses were reportedly set ablaze in Skipe and Pillong in Manipur’s Kamjong district, while a Nepali couple was shot and three civil defence volunteers were injured amid continuing violence.
Imphal, Oct. 18: Several houses were reportedly set on fire in Skipe and Pillong, Naga villages near the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Kamjong district, early Sunday, while a Nepali couple sustained bullet injuries after unidentified armed assailants opened fire on their vehicle between Mahadev and Gwaltabi in neighbouring Ukhrul district.
The incidents occurred amid continuing violence in the region following an armed clash between Kuki and Naga groups at Chassad village on Saturday, which left one person dead and several others injured.
According to local sources, the arson in Skipe took place at around 5 am. The village, located along the Indo-Myanmar border, has approximately 30 households. The exact number of houses damaged or destroyed could not be confirmed at the time of filing this report.
Skipe is situated around 4 km from Pillong, another village affected by the recent violence. Sources said residents had already left Skipe because of the ongoing conflict. Police personnel previously stationed at an outpost in the area had also reportedly left before the recent incident at Pillong.
Villagers further said local MLA Leishiyo Keishing had recently assured them that Indian Reserve Battalion personnel would be deployed to Skipe. However, the personnel were reportedly stationed at Kangpat Khunou, around 11 km from the village.
There were no confirmed reports of casualties in the latest arson incident at the time of filing this report.
In a separate incident, a Nepali couple travelling in a Bolero vehicle came under fire from unidentified armed assailants between Mahadev and Gwaltabi under Litan Police Station in Ukhrul district at around 11.45 am on Sunday.
The injured were identified as Sandip Dahal, 35, and Bepanah Dahal, 29, residents of Char Hajare. Both sustained gunshot wounds below the knees.
The couple received first aid at an Army hospital and were subsequently discharged after their condition was assessed as being out of danger, according to police sources.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting and the identity of the assailants were not immediately known.
Meanwhile, the Naga Village Guard–Eastern Command (NVG-EC) alleged that three civil defence volunteers were injured in an attack on Tangkhul Naga civilians at Kamjong district headquarters on Saturday.
In a statement issued late Sunday night, the organisation identified the injured as T Chithung of Ningchou village and S Malung and M Shithung of Bungpa Khullen. All three sustained gunshot injuries and were stabilised at Kamjong Hospital.
The NVG-EC alleged that armed members of the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) and the Village Volunteer of Eastern Zone (VVEZ), based in Chassad, opened fire towards residential areas of Kamjong headquarters at around 2.30 pm on October 17.
“The Kuki militants in collusion with their narco-terrorists resorted to unprovoked heavy firing towards the settlement areas of Kamjong headquarters causing deep fear and panic among the civil Tangkhul populace,” the statement said.
The organisation claimed that civil defence guards retaliated and pushed back the armed group. It also alleged that personnel of the 11 Assam Rifles stationed at Chassad assisted the attackers.
According to the NVG-EC, Assam Rifles personnel advanced with two Casspir vehicles, fired towards civilian areas and used stun bombs, some of which allegedly landed on civilian houses and damaged properties around Kamjong town.
The allegations against the Assam Rifles and the armed groups could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report. No response from the accused parties was available in the information provided.
The NVG-EC further alleged that the incidents reflected a nexus between security forces and Kuki armed groups and claimed that the violence could affect the Indo-Naga peace process, which began in 1997. These claims were part of the organisation’s statement and could not be independently established.
The organisation condemned the alleged attacks on Tangkhul Naga civilians and called on Naga people to remain vigilant, warning of serious repercussions if similar incidents continued.
The latest incidents follow an armed clash between Kuki and Naga groups at Chassad village in Kamjong district on Saturday. The violence left one person dead and several others injured, while houses were also set on fire.
The deceased was identified as Sheikhohou Haokip. Those injured included Chassad village chief Thangjahao Haokip, Phungtha village chief Seipao Haokip, Chassad Village Authority secretary Thanggin Taothang and village authority member ST Khailun Haokip.
With reports of arson, shootings and injuries emerging from different locations, the situation in Kamjong and adjoining areas remains a concern. The number of houses destroyed in the latest incidents and the full extent of the damage were not confirmed in the available reports.
