Kanggui: April 18, 2026
The Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, issued a sharp condemnation on Friday of what it called “reckless violence” in TM Kasom village, Ukhrul district, where two persons were killed in a firing incident at around 2:30 PM. The Committee also denounced what it termed a “baseless and malicious blame game” being directed at the Kuki community in the aftermath of the attack, warning that such narratives risk inflaming tensions in an already volatile region. It stressed that shifting blame without evidence serves only to obscure the real circumstances behind the loss of life.
According to the Committee’s statement, preliminary evidence suggests the incident stemmed from an internal conflict involving suspected NSCN-Eastern Flank cadres and elements allegedly linked to pro-Biren Arambai Tenggol groups. Citing visual material said to be available from the site, the organisation claimed the firing bore the hallmarks of a “planned ambush” rather than a spontaneous clash. It described attempts to implicate the Kuki community as “illogical, unfounded, and deliberately misleading,” arguing that the pattern of violence followed by blame-shifting points to a calculated effort to conceal internal divisions within such groups and divert public attention from their own activities.
The Committee further highlighted reports of unprovoked firing at Mongkot Chepu at around 4:40 PM on the same day, calling it a deliberate escalation intended to aggravate tensions across Ukhrul district. It said such incidents, when combined with the spread of unverified allegations, create a dangerous environment where misinformation can trigger wider unrest. The organisation urged residents to exercise caution and to avoid sharing unconfirmed reports on social media or other platforms that could deepen communal suspicion.
Adopting a tough legal posture, the Kuki CSO Working Committee warned that it would initiate legal action against media houses and individuals responsible for disseminating what it described as “unverified and defamatory” reports targeting the Kuki community. It said the right to free expression does not extend to propagating claims that damage the reputation of an entire community without factual basis. The Committee added that it is documenting instances of such reporting for potential proceedings under relevant defamation and information technology statutes.
While extending condolences to the families of the deceased — identified earlier as Chinaoshang Shokwungnao of Tashar Village, a retired personnel of the Naga Regiment, and Yaruingam Vashum, 43, of Kharasom CV village — the Committee appealed to the public to remain vigilant against misinformation. It reiterated calls for security forces to conduct an impartial investigation and for all communities to allow due process to establish facts, stating that peace in the district depends on truth prevailing over speculation and rumour.
Edited by Kukiland Media
