UKHRUL: The Working Committee, Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur, has expressed its condemnation and alarm over a series of grave, unlawful, and terror-inducing acts perpetrated by alleged armed cadres of the Kuki National Front (KNF), a Suspension of Operations (SoO) group under the United People’s Front (UPF), against the peaceful and unarmed residents of Ireng Naga Village, Kangpokpi district.
In a statement, Liangmai Naga Council alleged that fully armed KNF/UPF cadres, dressed in combat uniforms and carrying automatic weapons, openly violating SoO ground rules, illegally entered Ireng (Puilong) Naga Village on Sunday night.
“The armed cadres vandalized public property, destroyed a community waiting shed and village materials, and desecrated the village memorial stone by writing provocative slogans such as “Kukiland” and “Stay Away.” These acts constitute deliberate ethnic intimidation, territorial provocation, and psychological terror against the indigenous Naga population,” Liangmai Naga Council stated.
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It further stated that following the incident, the villagers imposed a peaceful road blockade on Ireng road on Monday morning at around 9 am, demanding protection and justice.
The situation escalated further when an individual identifying himself as Tiger Kipgen, also known as Thangboi Kipgen/Haogenthang Kipgen, reportedly a commander of KNF, contacted the Ireng Village Chairman via WhatsApp and subsequent mobile calls. “He allegedly issued explicit threats of open gunfire and the burning down of the entire village, amounting to criminal intimidation and credible threats to civilian life,” Liangmai Naga Council stated.
“Later in the afternoon, around 30–40 heavily armed KNF/UPF cadres were reportedly sighted advancing towards Ireng Naga Village in full combat gear, creating widespread panic and fear of an imminent armed assault on defenceless civilians, Liangmai Naga Council claimed, stating that such incidents are not isolated law-and-order issues.
“They reflect systematic violations of the SoO agreement, criminal conspiracy, intimidation, destruction of property, and acts that threaten communal harmony, constitutional order and national security,” it stated.
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Stating that the residents of Ireng (Puilong) Naga village are living under constant and credible fear of imminent violence, the Liangmai Naga Council demanded immediate registration of FIRs against Tiger Kipgen and all identifiable KNF/UPF cadres involved under relevant provisions of the IPC, UAPA, and other applicable laws and transfer the case immediately to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for an independent, impartial, and time-bound investigation into the incident and broader SoO violations. It also demanded deployment of adequate central and state security forces to secure Ireng Naga Village, ensure civilian safety, and prevent any armed incursion.
It further demanded disarmament, arrest and prosecution of the offending cadres and revocation of So0 privileges for groups repeatedly violating ground rules and clear public clarification from the competent authorities that So0 protections do not extend to armed criminality, ethnic intimidation, or terror activities.