UKHRUL: Saikul MLA Kimneo Hangshing and Kuki civil society organisations have condemned the reported killings of civilians in separate incidents at Tollen and Longpi villages in Tamenglong district on Sunday, calling for justice and stronger protection of civilians.
Hangshing condemned what she described as the “barbaric and cold-blooded killing” of innocent civilians, including women and children, in the two incidents.
The deceased have been identified as Seineh Singsit and Lhingjangai Singsit of Tollen village, and Thangvel Gangte and Julie Gangte of Longpi village. She also expressed concern over the critical injury sustained by Hemminsang Singsit, son of Seineh Singsit.
Hangshing said the attacks had caused profound grief and condemned the targeting of women, children and defenceless civilians, stating that no cause, ideology or grievance could justify violence against innocent lives.
The MLA called for collective resolve against violence, urging all sections of society to uphold human life and work towards peace, security and justice.
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Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi, the Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong and Noney (JTN) and the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Kaimai Block, separately condemned the Tollen attack.
CoTU alleged that armed cadres of NSCN-IM and ZUF-K opened fire at Tollen village at around 4 am. It stated that Lhingjangai Singsit was killed inside her home and that her husband, Seineh Singsit, later succumbed to his injuries. Their six-year-old son was reported seriously injured.
CoTU also called for immediate deployment of Central forces in Tollen, Longpi and other vulnerable Kuki-Zo villages, along with medical and humanitarian assistance. It urged an impartial, time-bound inquiry into the reported attacks.
The KSO Kaimai Block also alleged that NSCN-IM and ZUF-K cadres were responsible for the attack, condemning it as an assault on civilians and demanding stringent action against those responsible.
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The Kuki Inpi JTN, meanwhile, said Lhingjangai Singsit was killed in the attack while her husband and son were injured. It questioned how the incident could have occurred only a few hundred metres from a deployment of Central security forces.
Kuki bodies have demanded that the case be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for an impartial investigation and called for permanent deployment of security personnel at Tollen.
The Kuki Inpi JTN also issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the government to initiate concrete action. It announced a 24-hour economic blockade and warned of an indefinite total shutdown if its demands were not met.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of filing this report.
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