Recent Violence in Manipur Claims Lives of Kuki-Zo Civilians
Tragic Attacks in Manipur
Torched farmhouses along Jiribam-Tamenglong boundary (Image)
Imphal, Sept 16: Since September 13, three separate attacks in Manipur have resulted in the deaths of at least six Kuki-Zo civilians, with the most recent incident occurring on Tuesday, where two women were killed in Leisang, Jiribam district.
The attack unfolded around 3 PM in the Leisang-Muktokhal region, where two women were shot while tending to their farms.
The deceased have been identified as Chonga Sitlhou, aged 60, and 30-year-old Kimboi Singson, both from Leisang village.
Reports indicate that Sitlhou was gathering firewood when she was targeted, while Singson had just returned home after completing her nursing studies to help her family with farming.
Following the assault, multiple farmhouses in the vicinity were set ablaze. Local sources mentioned that several villagers who had gone to their fields are currently unaccounted for, though the precise number of missing individuals remains unclear.
The recent killings have intensified fears among residents near the Jiribam-Tamenglong border and have led to renewed calls for security and accountability from Kuki-Zo civil society groups.
Local accounts suggest possible involvement of NSCN-IM militants, with some sources also implicating ZUF-K, although these claims have not been independently verified.
These tragic events follow two days after four Kuki-Zo civilians, including a couple, were killed in separate incidents in Tollen, Tamenglong district, and Longpi, Noney district on September 13.
The Tollen attack resulted in the deaths of Seikhoneh Singsit and Lhingjangai Singsit, leaving their four young children orphaned. The Longpi incident also claimed the lives of two Kuki-Zo civilians.
In light of the escalating violence, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has announced that Kuki-Zo individuals allegedly killed by Naga armed groups in Manipur should not be buried until further notice.
The KZC has instructed that the remains of such victims be kept in the nearest cold-storage facility until further directives are issued, citing ongoing violence against Kuki-Zo civilians by Naga armed factions.
This directive comes as the government faces increasing pressure following the recent attacks.
In response to the Tollen killings, the Manipur government has agreed to transfer the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and has accepted demands for compensation, medical care for the injured child, rehabilitation for the four orphaned children, and enhanced security in at-risk areas.
The government and the Joint Action Committee have committed to implementing these measures within a 30-day timeframe.