Kamjong, Manipur: Kuki civilian killed, others injured and 15 houses burnt in fresh violence

A gun attack in Manipur's Kamjong district on Saturday, October 17, killed a Kuki civilian and injured several others, and at least 15 Kuki houses were burnt that night in Chassad village, according to IANS reports carried by The Morung Express and The Sentinel. Earlier reports on the shooting gave differing accounts of who fired and who was hit.

What the reports say happened on October 17

Firing was reported at about 2:30 pm near Kamjong bazar and Chassad village, according to EastMojo. It reported five people injured, including the chiefs of Chassad village and Phungtha, who were taken to the Assam Rifles hospital. NorthEast Now reported four injured, including the Chassad village chief, two Chassad Village Authority members and the Phungtha chief. It said preliminary information pointed to suspected NSCN-IM cadres, and that those hurt were treated at a nearby Army camp.

EastMojo said local sources alleged suspected Kuki militants fired on Tangkhul Naga civilians, while Chassad residents said the first shots came from the Kamjong side toward their village as villagers were repairing power lines. Locals also alleged that 11 Assam Rifles personnel assisted armed Kuki men; EastMojo said this could not be independently verified, and that no police or security agency statement had been issued when it published.

IANS reported later that a Kuki civilian died in a gun attack earlier on Saturday and four others had bullet injuries. That night, at least 15 Kuki houses were reportedly burnt by suspected militants in Chassad, and residents fled to nearby forest and a security forces camp. The report says the extent of the damage and the identity of those involved are unverified, and that Chassad police station learned of the incident on Sunday and had not held a spot inquiry, reportedly due to a shortage of personnel. Separately, IANS said three Tangkhul Naga civilians were shot at the district headquarters in an attack reportedly involving rival armed groups, and were in stable condition.

Official and community responses

Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the violence and called the house burning an intolerable crime. She directed the district administration, police and security forces to keep round-the-clock vigilance and bring those responsible to justice, per IANS. A joint column of the Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force and Kamjong Police was deployed, a police official said.

The Kuki-Zo Council said the security situation in Chassad had "deteriorated alarmingly," that four Kuki-Zo civilians had been killed in just over a week, and that an economic embargo reportedly prevents Kuki-Zo civilians in Kamjong from buying essential goods. It asked for central forces between the police station and Chassad, ex gratia for bereaved families and compensation for burnt houses.

Background

On October 15, Pratidin Time reported a gunfight in a forested area near the border in which a Kuki woman was reportedly killed and two Kuki-Zo civilians were missing, according to Kuki organizations, who blamed suspected NSCN-IM members; the report said this could not be independently verified. The Naga Village Guard Eastern Command said one of its patrols came under attack on October 15 near the border and blamed Kuki National Army-Burma and other groups, per NorthEast Now. These are the groups' own allegations. An editorial in Telangana Today counts at least nine lives lost in a fresh outbreak across Kamjong, Kangpokpi and Senapati.

What is not yet known

Who carried out the October 17 attack and the arson is not established in the reports read.