UKHRUL: Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) S Kamson has countered the statement issued by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) concerning the gunfire incident at Kharam Vaiphei on January 8, which inaccurately sought to portray the situation as an act of intimidation against so-called “innocent villagers.”
“Such assertions are misleading and fail to reflect the factual circumstances prevailing on the ground. Credible and verified inputs indicate the systematic establishment of fortified bunkers by Kuki underground outfits at village entry points, residential courtyards, and across the surrounding areas. The deliberate militarization of these locations fundamentally contradicts any attempt to characterize them as purely civilian or non-combatant zones,” ZUF stated.
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The Front also expressed its concern over the reported actions of KNF-P cadres, including the vandalization of public infrastructure such as the waiting shed and other properties belonging to Ireng Naga village in Kangpokpi district, along with alleged threats to burn down the entire village and cause harm to its residents.
“Such actions constitute serious violations of law and order and represent a direct infringement upon indigenous land rights and public safety,” it stated.
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Reiterating that encroachment upon ancestral land, accompanied by intimidation, coercion, or the misrepresentation of indigenous status, cannot be legitimized through propaganda or force, ZUF stated that it will not remain a mute spectator to illegal encroachment, organized criminal activities, or the presence of illicit drug networks within its ancestral territory.
“The Zeliangrong United Front reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding its people, land, and property from all forms of illegal encroachment. The ancestral heritage of the Zeliangrong Inpui people is inviolable, and not even an inch shall be conceded,” it added.
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