Songpi: The Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas Manipur – Kuki Hills (COPTAM-KH) has strongly condemned the reported attack on Chassad Village, Kamjong District, on 17 October 2026, allegedly carried out by armed cadres of the NSCN (IM), in which one civilian was killed, five village leaders were critically injured and civilian houses were burnt. In a press release Ref. No. 01/COPTAM-KH/PR/2026 dated 17-10-2026, issued by its Media & Publicity Wing from its Head Office at KIM Administrative Office, Tuibong Sub-Division, CCPUR District, the Committee said the attack reportedly claimed the life of Late Mr. Seikhohao Haokip and critically injured Chassad Chief Mr. Thangjahao Haokip, Chassad Village Authority (VA) Member Mr. Khailun Haokip, Chassad VA Member Mr. Thanggin Touthang, Chassad VA Member Mr. Seikhohao, and Phungtha Kachouphung Kuki Chief Mr. Seipao Haokip.
COPTAM-KH conveyed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family of Late Seikhohao Haokip and wished a speedy and complete recovery to all the injured village leaders. The Committee said it stands in solidarity with the people of Chassad, particularly the affected families who have endured the loss of a loved one, serious injuries, destruction of homes, and the fear and trauma caused by armed violence. It said no peaceful village should be subjected to armed intimidation, targeted violence, or the destruction of ancestral homes.
The Committee stated that the killing of a civilian, the critical injury of village chiefs and Village Authority members, and the burning of residential houses are grave assaults on human life, security, and the dignity of indigenous tribal communities. Such incidents demand immediate intervention, effective civilian protection, and accountability under the law. It said the Chassad incident cannot be seen as an isolated law and order issue but reflects a larger pattern of insecurity faced by Kuki villages in Kamjong District and other peripheral tribal areas where preventive security and protection mechanisms have remained inadequate.
Raising serious concerns regarding security failures and alleged partiality, COPTAM-KH expressed grave concern over the security situation in Chassad and other vulnerable Kuki villages in Kamjong District. The attack raises serious questions about the effectiveness of preventive security measures and the protection provided to civilian residents. The Committee said questions are being raised by villagers about how armed cadres could enter, attack and burn houses despite the presence of state security establishments in the area, and why timely response and preventive action were reportedly absent.
In this context, the Committee called for an impartial examination of the conduct and deployment of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Chassad and Kamjong District. In view of concerns raised regarding alleged bias and the effectiveness of existing security arrangements, COPTAM-KH demanded the removal and replacement of personnel whose impartiality is reasonably in question, pending an appropriate review. It said security arrangements must command the confidence of affected civilian communities and must function without ethnic or political bias, especially in a district that has seen repeated displacement and burning of tribal homes.
The Committee also expressed serious concern regarding allegations of bias and possible dereliction of duty involving Shri Tholu Rocky, Superintendent of Police, Kamjong District, including allegations concerning the police response to the attack and claims of possible assistance to the NSCN (IM) attackers. COPTAM-KH clarified that these are serious allegations that require independent investigation and must not be treated as established findings without supporting evidence. However, given the gravity of the incident, it said, verifiable evidence, deployment logs, communications and video footage must be examined to determine whether there was failure of duty, negligence or misconduct.
Nevertheless, given the gravity of the incident and the loss of civilian life, COPTAM-KH demanded that Shri Tholu Rocky be transferred or removed from his present post pending an impartial inquiry to safeguard public confidence and ensure that the investigation proceeds without any reasonable apprehension of interference. It said continuation of the same police leadership in the same district during the probe would erode public trust among the affected tribal communities, particularly the families of Late Seikhohao Haokip and the injured village chiefs who are seeking justice and protection.
Outlining its urgent demands, COPTAM-KH called upon the Government of India, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government of Manipur, and the competent authorities to take immediate measures. Its first demand is the immediate deployment of neutral Central Security Forces. The Committee said adequate and impartial Central Security Forces must be deployed in Chassad and other vulnerable Kuki villages in Kamjong District and entrusted with protecting civilians, preventing further armed attacks, and safeguarding residential property without ethnic or political bias. It said only neutral central forces can restore confidence after the alleged failure of existing arrangements.
Its second and third demands relate to personnel. COPTAM-KH demanded removal or transfer of allegedly biased IRB personnel after reviewing deployment and conduct in Chassad and Kamjong District, and the transfer of the Superintendent of Police, Kamjong District, pending inquiry. It said Shri Tholu Rocky must be transferred or removed pending an independent inquiry into allegations of bias, possible negligence, and the handling of the 17 October 2026 attack, and any allegation of assistance to the attackers must be investigated on the basis of verifiable evidence, with appropriate legal or disciplinary action where responsibility is established.
Its fourth demand is for an independent and time-bound investigation. The Committee said the probe must cover the killing of Late Seikhohao Haokip, the injuries inflicted on the village leaders, the burning of civilian houses, and any failure of preventive or security measures. The investigation must identify the perpetrators and prosecute those found responsible in accordance with the law. The investigation must also examine the sequence of events before, during and after the attack, including whether early warnings were ignored and whether security response was delayed or inadequate.
The fifth, sixth and seventh demands focus on humanitarian and legal accountability. COPTAM-KH demanded immediate medical assistance to ensure adequate treatment and necessary support for critically injured Chassad Chief Mr. Thangjahao Haokip, Chassad VA Member Mr. Khailun Haokip, Chassad VA Member Mr. Thanggin Touthang, Chassad VA Member Mr. Seikhohao, and Phungtha Kachouphung Kuki Chief Mr. Seipao Haokip. It also sought compensation and rehabilitation, including appropriate ex-gratia assistance to the bereaved family of Late Seikhohao Haokip and adequate compensation and rehabilitation assistance to families whose houses and properties have been burned or destroyed.
Further, it demanded preservation of evidence and accountability, stating that all relevant police records, deployment logs, communications, available video footage, and other evidence relating to the incident must be secured. Any established failure of duty, negligence, misconduct, or unlawful assistance must be investigated and appropriate action taken against those found responsible. This, it said, is essential to prevent tampering of records and to ensure that the inquiry into the killing of Seikhohao Haokip and the burning of Chassad houses is credible and transparent.
Its eighth demand is protection of vulnerable Kuki villages. The Committee said effective security arrangements must be established in Chassad and neighbouring vulnerable villages to prevent further armed incursions, killings, arson, intimidation, and forced displacement. Village chiefs and Village Authority members must be able to discharge their customary and administrative responsibilities without fear or armed interference. The people of Chassad must not be left vulnerable to armed attacks, killings, and the destruction of their ancestral homes, it said.
In an appeal to the Union Government, COPTAM-KH urgently appealed to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to intervene directly and ensure that neutral Central Security Forces are deployed to protect Chassad and other vulnerable Kuki villages, while the impartiality and effectiveness of the existing state security arrangements are independently examined. It said protection of civilian lives and property is a fundamental responsibility of the State and every citizen is entitled to equal protection under the law, irrespective of ethnic identity or community affiliation.
The Committee further called upon community leaders, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation. However, appeals for peace must be accompanied by concrete security measures, impartial investigations, humanitarian assistance, and accountability for those responsible for criminal violence. It said peace cannot be sustained when civilians fear armed attacks and lose confidence in the institutions entrusted with their protection. Neutral security arrangements, transparent investigations, and accountability are indispensable to restoring public confidence and safeguarding vulnerable tribal communities.
COPTAM-KH said it stands firmly with the people of Chassad and reiterated its demand for immediate deployment of neutral Central Security Forces, the removal or replacement of security personnel whose impartiality is reasonably in question, the transfer of the Superintendent of Police pending an impartial inquiry, and a thorough investigation into the attack of 17 October 2026. It said justice for Chassad must not be delayed, and the protection of civilian lives must not be compromised, and that the killing of Seikhohao Haokip must not go unaccounted for.
