UKHRUL: Following the attack on Naga villages along the Indo-Myanmar border by suspected Myanmar-based armed groups on May 7, various civil society organizations visited the affected villages on Monday. The team comprised of representatives from the Indigenous People’s Forum Manipur (IPFM), All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO), Tangkhul elders, and Meitei intellectuals. They described the attack as a clear case of external aggression.
The team engaged with the affected three villagers, namely Namlee, Wanglee and Choro, and distributed relief materials. They also conducted a detailed inquiry into the damages, compiling a report on the number of houses burned, vehicles destroyed, and instances of looting.
Also read | NWU Appeals for Safe Release of Abducted Nagas, Demands Abrogation of SoO Agreement
Speaking to reporters and those gathered at the KAKA Trade Centre, social activist and Chief Advisor of the Indigenous People’s Forum Manipur, Ashang Kasar, stated that the visit was intended as a solidarity journey following the attack, which he labeled as external aggression. He lamented the lack of electricity and mobile connectivity at KAKA Trade Centre, which has the potential to be a commercial hub. He urged the government to provide these services as soon as possible.
Additionally, during a speech at Namlee village, he called for the establishment of a battalion of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) or Manipur Rifles (MR) to prevent further external aggression. He urged the government to rebuild the burned houses immediately to restore balance. He expressed strong dissatisfaction over the state government’s lack of concrete action thus far.
Also read | Meghalaya Govt Urges Students, Professionals Residing Abroad to Register on State Portal
At Choro, where the headman’s house was set ablaze, he reiterated that the attack was executed by foreign elements from Myanmar, specifically by the Kuki National Army, Burma (KNA-B). He condemned the attack as a case of external aggression and urged the state government to take immediate steps to enhance security in the region, cautioning that failure to do so could lead to perceptions of the government ceding land to outsiders. He emphasized that there is no doubt about foreign aggression and urged everyone to acknowledge the destruction caused.
Devan, an advisor from AMUCO, stated that the incident at Choro was carried out by the KNA-B, which operates in Myanmar. He strongly condemned the attack and expressed dissatisfaction with the recent remarks by the Manipur Home Minister, who claimed not to have received official reports of foreign aggression. He noted the unfortunate nature of the Home Minister’s statement, especially considering that an Indian Army operation had just rescued a hostage held by the KNA-B in Myanmar. Devan criticized the government’s inaction, especially given that the incident occurred near an army camp, and questioned the lack of clarification regarding the involvement of external forces.
He alleged that the Manipur government has neglected the region and questioned who would be responsible for security—the state forces, the central government, or would the people be left to fend for themselves?
Also read | Assam, Meghalaya Governments Working to Resolve Interstate Border Dispute Amicably: AL Hek
Daniel Lamkang, President of the Manipur Naga Youth Organisation, asserted that Choro is a part of Naga and India’s territory. He stated that the attack was conducted by the KNA-B and PDF (People’s Defence Force), characterizing it as clear foreign aggression.
Ayo, Chairman of Wanglee Market, pointed out that the region is remote and has not received the necessary development facilities. He stated that the area has received little attention from the government, aside from visits during unfortunate incidents, despite being part of Manipur.
Similarly, the village chiefs of KAKA Trade Centre, Namlee, and Choro all demanded that the government provide electricity, proper telecommunications service, medical facilities, bridges to connect villages, schools, and urgent attention to regional security.