UKHRUL: An alleged firing incident at a Naga Village Guard (NVG) training camp in Bitiang village under Tupul subdivision of Noney district has been reported on Wednesday.
Local sources alleged that personnel of the CRPF’s CoBRA unit carried out an operation at the camp in the morning. They claimed firing was reported from the area, though the sequence of events remains unclear.
Sources also claimed there were casualties among the Naga volunteers. However, neither the number of those reportedly affected nor their identities could be independently verified.
Meanwhile, sources alleged that members of the Rongmei Luh Phwam were stopped from reaching the area due to road restrictions reportedly imposed by CRPF personnel. They further claimed that local women had gathered to block the movement of additional security forces towards Bitiang.
Ukhrul Times could not independently verify the claims. Further details are awaited.
Following reports of the alleged attack, the Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council (JTC), Manipur, on Wednesday announced an immediate and indefinite shutdown across areas inhabited by the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme (Zeliangrong) communities in Noney district.
JTC-Manipur in a statement on Wednesday alleged that members of the “CoBRA team”, in collusion with ZUF-J, had attacked Naga Volunteer Groups at Bitiang. It claimed the volunteers were guarding their villages and ancestral lands when they came under attack.
Citing the reported incident and what it described as continued attacks on Naga civilians, the JTC-Manipur declared an immediate shutdown of National Highways, railway services and National Projects passing through the territories of the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme communities. It said essential services, including healthcare, schools and colleges, PHED, electricity and telecommunications, would remain exempt.
The JTC-Manipur also referred to the abduction and killing of six Naga civilians, including two pastors, from Leilon Vaiphei on May 13, alleging that those responsible had yet to be brought to justice.
JTC-Manipur said the shutdown would continue until the Government of India takes what it described as “decisive and meaningful action” by arresting those responsible for the killings, halting alleged hostile operations against Naga villages and restoring justice.
