Chassad/Kamjong: The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Kamjong District, has expressed its strongest condemnation over the reported burning down of Lhingkim Memorial Academy during the attack on Chassad village on the night of 17 October 2026. In a press release issued on Monday under Ref. No. 05/2026/KSO(KD)-PR-09, the student body said the incident reportedly involved the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), NSCN-IM, Eastern Flank, and Khanuithot.
According to the KSO, the destruction of the educational institution occurred amid an armed attack on Chassad village, one of the oldest Kuki villages in the Kamjong district. The organisation stated that the school was reduced to ashes, marking a grave loss for the local community. Chassad has witnessed repeated violence in recent years, and the latest incident has once again left students and residents in distress.
Condemning the act, the KSO said the destruction of an educational institution is a grave assault on the fundamental right to education and the future of innocent students. The organisation emphasised that schools are places of learning, hope, and opportunity and must never become targets of violence or be reduced to ashes amid armed conflict. It described the reported destruction of Lhingkim Memorial Academy as a deeply distressing incident that threatens the educational prospects of students and inflicts lasting pain on the community.
The KSO further stated that it views the incident with utmost seriousness and strongly condemns any act of violence that endangers civilians, destroys educational infrastructure, and disrupts the academic future of children. It asserted that whatever the circumstances, educational institutions must be respected and protected. No student, the organisation said, should be forced to suffer the consequences of violence or be deprived of education because of conflict.
Calling for accountability, the student body urged the concerned authorities to conduct a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation into the incident, establish the facts, and ensure that those found responsible are held accountable in accordance with the law. It also appealed to the authorities to take immediate measures to protect civilians, safeguard educational institutions, and prevent further attacks on villages and public infrastructure in the border region.
Extending solidarity, the KSO, Kamjong District, said it stands with the affected students, teachers, parents, and the entire community of Chassad village during this difficult time. The organisation made a fervent appeal to all concerned parties to exercise restraint, respect civilian life, and refrain from acts that cause further destruction, displacement, and suffering. It noted that the people of Chassad are already reeling from insecurity and such incidents only deepen their hardship.
The organisation underlined that education is the foundation of the future, and no conflict should be allowed to destroy the dreams of children. It said the loss of Lhingkim Memorial Academy must serve as a reminder of the urgent need to protect educational institutions and preserve the future of the younger generation. The burning of a school, it added, not only affects the present batch of students but also leaves a long-term impact on literacy and development in the remote village.
Reiterating its stand, the Kuki Students’ Organisation, Kamjong District, reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of students’ rights, the promotion of education, and the safety and dignity of communities. The statement was issued by the Media Cell, KSO, Kamjong District, from its administrative office at EKCA Office, Chassad.
