Tamenglong: The Kuki Civic Action Committee (KCAC) has strongly condemned the alleged burning of Sojamphai Kuki village in Tamenglong district, allegedly by cadres of NSCN-IM and ZUF-K. In a press statement issued on Saturday, KCAC said that Sojamphai village was attacked, looted and set on fire, rendering the entire village population homeless. The organization described the incident as part of a continuing pattern of targeted attacks against Kuki villages in the district. The allegations made by KCAC regarding the involvement of the two groups could not be independently verified.
According to KCAC, the Sojamphai incident is not an isolated case. The committee claimed that at least 29 Kuki villages in Tamenglong and adjoining areas have been attacked, looted or burnt over the past several months. KCAC alleged that in these incidents, houses were burnt down, properties including livestock, food grains and household belongings were looted or destroyed, and churches and schools were also damaged. The committee said that these attacks have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among Kuki villagers living in interior areas of the district.
KCAC further claimed that as a result of these alleged attacks, more than 2,000 Kuki civilians have been displaced from their native villages and are now taking shelter in relief camps, churches and relatives’ homes in safer areas. The organization also claimed that 26 Kuki civilians have been killed in the series of attacks. According to KCAC, many of the displaced include women, children and elderly persons who are living without adequate food, shelter and medical care. The committee said that the humanitarian situation of the displaced families is deteriorating with each passing day.
Providing details of the Sojamphai village arson, KCAC alleged that armed cadres entered the village in the early hours, fired indiscriminately to create panic, and then set houses ablaze after looting valuables. The villagers, according to KCAC, fled into the nearby jungle for safety and later trekked for hours to reach safer Kuki villages. KCAC said that the entire village, consisting of around 35 households, was reduced to ashes. Photographs and videos purportedly showing the burnt village have been circulated on social media, though their authenticity could not be independently verified.
KCAC strongly criticized the Central government and the state government for what it called inaction and silence over the alleged systematic attacks on Kuki villages in Tamenglong. The committee alleged that despite repeated memorandums, press statements and appeals, no concrete action has been taken to prevent such incidents or to provide security to vulnerable Kuki villages. KCAC also alleged that armed groups operating in the area are being covertly tolerated to put pressure on the Kuki community in the context of the larger political situation in Manipur.
The committee said that Tamenglong, which was earlier known for peaceful coexistence of different communities, is now witnessing increasing polarization due to alleged targeted attacks. KCAC said that Kuki villagers, who have been living in Tamenglong for decades, are being treated as outsiders in their own district. It said that the alleged attacks are not only a violation of human rights but also an attempt to forcefully displace Kuki population from their ancestral lands. KCAC said that such actions, if not checked, could have serious consequences for inter-community relations in the region.
In its statement, KCAC demanded immediate intervention by the Government of India to ensure the safety and security of Kuki villages in Tamenglong district. It demanded deployment of neutral central forces in vulnerable Kuki villages to prevent further attacks and arson. The committee also demanded that an FIR be registered, legal action be initiated against those involved in the Sojamphai arson and other incidents, and a high-level inquiry be ordered to investigate the alleged attacks on 29 Kuki villages.
KCAC also demanded immediate relief and rehabilitation for the displaced families. It said that the government should provide adequate relief materials including food, medicines, clothing and temporary shelters for over 2,000 displaced persons. It also demanded that the government should ensure safe and dignified return of displaced families to their villages, reconstruction of burnt houses, and compensation for lost properties, livestock and other belongings. The committee said that without rehabilitation, the displaced families will continue to suffer.
Meanwhile, KCAC appealed to all civil society organizations, church bodies, human rights organizations and community leaders to take note of the alleged plight of Kuki villagers in Tamenglong and to raise their voice for justice. It also appealed for peace and said that the Kuki community wants peaceful coexistence but peace cannot be achieved without justice and security. The committee said it will continue to highlight the issue at all appropriate forums until justice is delivered.
