UKHRUL: Village authorities representing nine Naga villages in and around Tokpa Naga Village, Champhai Block, Kangpokpi District, Manipur, have issued a strong condemnation following an armed attack, indiscriminate firing and arson at Tokpa Naga Village on Tuesday night, at around 9:30 PM.
According to information gathered through a spot inquiry by the village authorities, a group of armed Kuki militants carrying sophisticated automatic weapons entered the village and opened indiscriminate fire before setting several structures ablaze. Nine residential houses, a church, and other properties were reportedly destroyed in the arson attack, causing extensive damage. The village authorities also alleged that the assailants physically assaulted civilians and forcibly seized four mobile phones from residents at gunpoint, identified as M.Roselin (Tiko), Th.Basanta, Th.Dany and Th.Wizonliu.
In a joint statement, the village authorities of the nine villages said they were deeply disturbed by the attack on unarmed civilians, describing such violence as “completely unacceptable.” They expressed solidarity with the residents of Tokpa Naga Village and extended sympathy to the affected families.
The village bodies called on the authorities to take immediate and impartial action, including the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the attack, arson and destruction of property. They further appealed to the Government of Manipur and the district administration to ensure prompt relief and rehabilitation measures, including deployment of central forces and adequate compensation for the loss of homes, the church, and other property.
The statement also urged all communities and civil society organisations to exercise restraint and avoid retaliatory violence, misinformation or provocative statements, emphasizing that “justice must be pursued through lawful and peaceful means.”
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The condemnation was jointly issued by the village authorities of Phyapou, Kongpao, Liyai Kalapahar, Lower Thanamba, Mahika, Daili, Yaikongpao (Tagaramphung), Tumnoupokpi and Tokpa villages.
The incident comes a day after the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi District, condemned a separate attack in which civilian houses were allegedly burned down by suspected cadres of the NSCN (IM), at Kailenjang village in Kangpokpi district on Monday afternoon.
The KSO, Sadar Hills, noted that the incident took place just five kilometres from the venue in Senapati headquarters where the Manipur government, led by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho and Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, was holding peace talks with leaders of the United Naga Council. It had described the incident as “a direct attempt to sabotage peace and spread fear among innocent villagers.”
