Ukhrul, Jan 7: A Naga woman was reportedly assaulted by Kuki miscreants on Tuesday at Konsakhul K. Lungwiram, a Zeliangrong Naga village located 2 km from the Leimakhong army cantonment in the Saitu constituency under Kangpokpi District.
The incident allegedly occurred while a resident of K. Lungwiram, an exclusively Liangmai Naga village, was leveling a plot of land using an excavator. The woman was reportedly manhandled and assaulted by a group of Kuki individuals.
A video circulating on social media allegedly shows Kuki individuals verbally abusing the Naga villagers and issuing threats against the person recording the incident. In the footage, the Kuki miscreants is seen threatening to burn the JCB excavator and harm the Naga villagers in broad daylight.
According to the victim’s account, a mob of approximately 20 Kuki miscreants, arrived and obstructed her work. They allegedly threw her to the ground, physically assaulted her, and destroyed her mobile phone.
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The victim’s brother corroborated her account, stating that the mob assaulted his sister, prevented the leveling of the plot, and verbally harassed them with profanities.
The victim and the villagers have appealed to Naga civil organizations and authority to intervene and address the situation.
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It may be mentioned that amid the prevailing Manipur violence which has persisted for over 19 months, the Liangmai Nagas of Leimakhong areas have been subjected to many attacks and intimidation by the Kuki-Zo communities, including involvement of the cadres of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), who are under Suspension of Operation agreements with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur in the past. Among many reported incidents in the recent past, in June 2023, a Liangmai Naga house in Leimakhong was allegedly burnt by Kukis, while the same year, a Liangmei Naga man was reportedly attacked by the same tribal community.
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The Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi, Manipur (LNKR-M) or Liangmai student union, Liangmai Pui Naga Ruangdi (LPNR) or Liangmai women union and Liangmai Naga Ruangdi (LNR), the apex organisation of Liangmai Nagas of Nagaland and Manipur had strongly condemned the incidents in the past.
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