Three suspected Kuki militants were killed in a clash at Tazeikaiphun Naga village in Noney, where five firearms, ammunition and a drone were recovered. Meanwhile Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) strongly condemned the killing calling it barbaric.
Imphal, Oct. 31: Three suspected Kuki militants were reportedly killed in an exchange of fire with Naga village volunteers following an armed attack on Tazeikaiphun (Kekru) Naga village in Noney district. Five firearms, including three automatic rifles, along with ammunition, explosives, a drone and communication equipment were reportedly recovered from the surrounding area.
According to reports received by the press, heavily armed Kuki militants launched an attack on the village, which falls under Nungba Police Station, on Friday evening. Naga village volunteers deployed to guard the settlement retaliated, triggering an exchange of fire that reportedly continued through the night and into Saturday morning.
Following the cessation of firing, Naga village volunteers conducted search operations in and around the village. During the search, they reportedly recovered the bodies of three Kuki militants along with a cache of weapons and other materials allegedly used by the attackers.
The items reportedly recovered during the search operation included five firearms, three of which were identified as automatic rifles, and eight magazines of different weapons.
The recovery also included numerous rounds of live ammunition, locally fabricated POMPI shells, a drone, two walkie-talkie sets and several other articles.
The recovery of the weapons and communication equipment has raised further security concerns in the area, which has witnessed repeated armed attacks targeting the Naga village.
The identities of the three deceased persons have not been disclosed in the information available so far.
Following reports of the gunfight, teams from Noney District Police and central security forces moved to the area to inspect the incident site.
Police have reportedly registered a case in connection with the incident, while security forces have launched search operations in the surrounding areas.
Further details regarding the circumstances of the clash, the identities of those killed and the recovery of weapons are awaited from the authorities.
The latest incident is reportedly the fourth attack on Tazeikaiphun (Kekru) Naga village by armed Kuki groups.
According to reports, another intense attack was launched on the village at around 4 pm on October 29. Naga village volunteers guarding the settlement returned fire, following which unexploded POMPI shells and other materials allegedly used by the attackers were recovered.
The village had also faced two earlier attacks, taking the reported number of armed incursions to four, including the latest assault that began on Friday evening.
Naga village volunteers have continued guarding the settlement against repeated incursions. According to the reports, their resistance has prevented the attackers from overrunning or occupying the village.
The latest exchange of fire adds to the continuing security concerns in the Noney district, particularly in areas where village volunteers have been guarding settlements amid recurring armed confrontations.
Kuki Inpi Manipur Condemns Alleged Killing, Accuses NSCN-IM and ZUF(K)
Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) on Saturday strongly condemned the alleged killing of three Kuki-Zo village volunteers in Noney district, accusing cadres of the NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) of being responsible for the incident. The organisation also held the government accountable, alleging failure to provide adequate security to vulnerable Kuki-Zo settlements.
In a statement, the Kuki apex body expressed outrage and grief over what it described as a “barbaric” attack on the lives, dignity and survival of the Kuki-Zo people. It alleged that the absence of adequate state protection, despite repeated warnings about security threats, had forced civilians to assume responsibility for defending their homes and communities.
KIM further alleged that the perpetrators had physically kicked and mocked the bodies of the deceased after killing them, describing the reported conduct as a gross violation of human dignity.
The organisation accused the government of deliberate negligence, claiming that its failure to restrain armed groups and protect vulnerable settlements had created an environment of insecurity. It also alleged that continued tolerance of NSCN-IM activities had reinforced perceptions that the outfit was operating as a proxy for vested political interests.
Holding the authorities accountable on constitutional, legal and moral grounds, KIM demanded immediate action against those responsible and called for justice for the bereaved families.
“Silence and inaction in the face of this barbarism are total complicity,” the organisation asserted, adding that the sacrifice of the three volunteers should not be reduced to mere statistics.
