Songpi: Chassad Kuki village in Kamjong district is reportedly facing a continued offensive attributed to NSCN-IM and allied armed groups, with the situation still described as ongoing. One person identified as Seikhohao Haokip has been reported killed, while four others have sustained injuries. Reports from the ground indicate that most houses in the Kuki village have been burnt down during the assault, leaving the entire civilian population displaced and raising grave concerns over safety and lack of protection.
The four injured have been taken to AR Hospital for treatment. They have been identified as Thangjahou Haokip, Chief of Chassad; St. Khailun Haokip, Village Authority Member, Chassad; Seikhohou, Village Authority Member, Chassad; and Seipao Haokip, Chief of Phungtha (Kachouphung-Kuki), who was himself earlier displaced from his village amid violence involving NSCN-IM and Tangkhul armed elements. Their medical condition is yet to be officially confirmed by hospital authorities.
According to information received from the area, the attack allegedly involved NSCN-IM, NSCN Eastern Flank (EF), Khanuithot Khon and NVG operating together. Local sources described heavy use of bombs and sophisticated ammunition, indicating a coordinated assault on the civilian settlement. Villagers alleged that houses were systematically torched after firing, reducing the Kuki village to ashes and leaving families with nothing to return to.
Alongside the armed groups, serious allegations have emerged against Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing. He has been accused by local sources of supplying bombs and ammunition to groups involved in the Chassad attack. The allegation remains unverified at this stage and is based on claims circulating from the ground. Community leaders, however, are demanding that the Government of Manipur take the allegation seriously and order an immediate, impartial investigation to establish the facts.
The humanitarian fallout is severe. Women and children of Chassad Kuki village were seen fleeing with blankets and whatever belongings they could carry, taking shelter in surrounding forests. With their homes burnt, they are now forced to spend nights in the open, exposed to cold, fear and insecurity. The images of children and elderly people running for safety have triggered widespread anguish over the plight of Kuki civilians in the border area.
The incident comes amid a contested narrative in local media. For the past several days, Ukhrul Times and some other Tangkhul media platforms have circulated claims that KNA-B attacked Tangkhul villages. The circulation of such claims just before the Chassad attack has raised questions about whether a narrative was being created to justify the subsequent assault on the Kuki village. Both sets of claims need independent verification by authorities.
In response, residents and Kuki leaders have urged urgent intervention by the Government of Manipur. They have called for immediate deployment of adequate security forces to protect civilians in Chassad, provision of emergency relief, food, medicines and shelter for those displaced in the forests, and accountability for those responsible. They further demanded that if evidence is found against any person including MLA Leishiyo, appropriate legal action including arrest must be taken without delay.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the Chassad Kuki village attack. The security situation remains tense and volatile, with access to the village still difficult. Further details on casualties, extent of property destruction and number of displaced families are awaited as more information becomes available from official and ground sources.
