UKHRUL: Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), a Kuki civil body has condemned the alleged burning of two Kuki villages in Nungba sub-division of Tamenglong district, claiming that Lengluong and Teikhang villages were set on fire on Wednesday afternoon by cadres of the NSCN-IM and the Kamson faction of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF).
The CoTU in a statement issued on Thursday alleged that armed men attacked the villages at around 3 pm on July 15, reducing them to ashes. It described the incident as the latest in what it called a series of attacks on Kuki-Zo habitations in Nungba over the past two weeks.
The Kuki body claimed that “five Kuki-Zo villages in the sub-division have come under attack during this period and accused the NSCN-IM led by Thuingaleng Muivah and the ZUF (Kamson) faction of carrying out the assaults.”
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It also criticised Nungba MLA Dinganglung Gangmei, popularly known as Dipu Gangmei, and other elected representatives from the affected areas, alleging that they had failed to intervene despite repeated attacks. The statement said the continued silence of public representatives had left affected villagers feeling abandoned.
“Their silence speaks volumes,” the CoTU said, alleging that elected representatives had failed in their responsibility to protect all communities living within their constituencies.
Appealing to the Government of India and the Manipur government, the committee urged authorities to take firm action against armed groups it described as promoting secessionist or transnational agendas. It argued that democratic institutions could not function effectively if such groups continued to operate with impunity.
There was no immediate response from the NSCN-IM, the ZUF (Kamson), the Manipur government or the legislators named in the statement. Ukhrul Times could not independently verify the allegations contained in the committee’s statement.
