UKHRUL: Five Naga villages along the Noney-Kangpokpi-Senapati border area namely Makui Chamriupiu, Langka and Thanamba under Kangpokpi district, and Tazeikaiphun Part 3 and Kapningching Mukti Part 5 in Noney district came under an alleged armed attack early Wednesday morning.
The Makui Chamriupiu village authority claimed that homes were set ablaze and residents forced to flee into the surrounding forests.
According to the Makui VA, heavy gunfire was heard around 5 am, followed by what it described as a coordinated assault by armed cadres allegedly belonging to the KNF(P), KNF(N) and KRA.
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The VA said several ancestral homes and properties were destroyed in the ensuing arson, with losses running into crores of rupees. Women, children and elderly residents were reportedly forced to flee for safety and are currently sheltering in the forests without adequate food or basic necessities.
The Makui VA in a statement issued on Wednesday accused the authorities of failing to protect the affected villages despite what it said were prior warnings about the security situation.
It also questioned the continuation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with armed groups, arguing that the pact was intended to maintain peace and should not provide protection to groups accused of violating its ground rules.
The VA has demanded the immediate abrogation of the SoO agreement with the groups it named, permanent deployment of central forces in the affected areas, full compensation and rehabilitation for families who lost homes and property, and a time-bound investigation leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
It also appealed to the prime minister, Union home minister and Manipur chief minister to intervene immediately, warning that continued inaction could expose more villages to violence and displacement.
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Meanwhile, two villages under Nungba Police Station in Noney district came under separate attacks by suspected Kuki militants on Wednesday morning, with 3–4 houses reportedly burnt down at Kapningching Mukti Part 5 and an exchange of fire lasting more than two hours at Tazeikaiphun Part 3.
According to preliminary information from the police, Kapningching Mukti Part 5 came under attack in the morning, during which 3–4 houses were reportedly set ablaze and reduced to ashes.
In a separate incident, the bunker of Tazeikaiphun Part 3 village was attacked by suspected Kuki militants at around 6:30 am, according to police.
An exchange of fire subsequently took place between the village guards and the attackers for more than two hours. Assam Rifles personnel and police reached the spot and took up necessary security and investigation measures.
Police said there were no reports of casualties among villagers in the preliminary assessment. Tazeikaiphun Part 3 is located around 9 km from Nungba Police Station along National Highway-37.
Further details on the attacks, the extent of damage and the identity of those involved are awaited.
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The villagers of Tajeikaiphun said they defended the village with licensed firearms, Kartoos, and ammunition as the attackers were allegedly heavily armed with automatic weapons.
Tajeikaiphun villagers further alleged that ammunition recovered after the exchange of fire bore headstamp markings associated with Indian ordnance factories, including markings identified as “KF” and “OFV”. They claimed the markings correspond to ammunition manufactured at Ammunition Factory Khadki in Maharashtra and Ordnance Factory Varangaon.
The villagers have raised questions over how ammunition manufactured by Indian state-owned ordnance facilities allegedly came into the possession of armed groups.
The markings and recovered ammunition would require forensic examination and verification by competent authorities.
