By Nengcha Haokip, Kukiland Express
DeskKanggui: April 26, 2026Zalenbung Village Authority on Saturday said the village endured a 13-hour assault by NSCN Eastern Flank cadres that began Friday evening and continued until dawn, despite the presence of central security forces in the area. In a strongly worded statement, the authority accused the Manipur government of failing to empower forces to act, leaving Kuki civilians to fend for themselves as bullets rained from Thawai-based militants.
According to the release, the attack on Zalenbung started at 5:45 pm on April 24, 2026, and raged uninterrupted until 7:00 am on April 25, 2026. The village authority alleged that NSCN-EF fighters operated with impunity and carried out the offensive as part of a wider campaign targeting Kuki settlements across Ukhrul. Security personnel deployed nearby were present but “appear to lack adequate authority from the state government to intervene effectively,” the statement said, forcing villagers to retaliate in self-defence to protect lives and homes.
The authority linked the Zalenbung siege to a pattern of coordinated strikes on Kuki villages in recent days. It noted that Tangkhul militants had already launched full-scale attacks on Mulam and Shongphel before escalating aggression to Zalenbung, Shangkai, and Mongkot Chepu. The release described the raids as evidence of the state’s collapse in duty, arguing that the government has failed to ensure safety and security for the Kuki population in Ukhrul district despite repeated warnings and casualties.
Condemning what it called “state-enabled impunity,” Zalenbung Village Authority said the protection of its people is a fundamental responsibility that it was compelled to assume after official machinery broke down. The village body warned that continued inaction would push more settlements toward armed self-defence, as appeals for protection have gone unanswered while attacks intensify. It also raised concerns that the sustained gunfire so close to security posts signaled either paralysis or complicity within the administration.
Backing the Working Committee of Kuki CSOs, Ukhrul, the village authority endorsed the demand for administrative merger of Kuki villages in Ukhrul district with Kangpokpi district. It argued that only a change in jurisdiction could guarantee safety, dignity, and access to relief, asserting that forced coexistence under the current setup has become untenable. The authority urged Delhi to intervene immediately, stating that without decisive political and security measures, more villages would face the same 13-hour siege Zalenbung survived.
