Manipur's Kangpokpi District in Flames as Militants Clash with Kuki Community

Image Source: Internet

Violence erupted in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Monday as armed militants, suspected to be from the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF-Kasom) and NSCN-IM, set fire to a Kuki village. The incident has left local residents on edge, with no reported casualties or injuries. According to a senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the village was abandoned decades ago due to a Kuki-Naga clash, but some Kuki families had begun to resettle in the area. The militants allegedly torched three houses and a vehicle, sparking outrage from local communities. In a separate video circulating on social media, a group of ZUF Tiger Force cadres were seen burning down a farmhouse and destroying poppy cultivation in the Waphong Kuki village area. The banned outfit has claimed responsibility for the incident, citing a campaign against illegal poppy cultivation, narcotics trafficking, and encroachment by foreign settlers. However, a Kuki organisation, Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi, has disputed the ZUF's claims, accusing the group of repeatedly threatening and intimidating the Kuki-Zo community. The organisation has urged the government to take immediate action against the ZUF faction and has served a 24-hour ultimatum to apprehend the perpetrators. Meanwhile, the Sadar Hill Chief's Association has announced a 24-hour window for the ZUF to surrender and compensate for the damage caused to the Kuki villagers. Failure to meet the demand may lead to further action from local civil bodies. The recent incident has added to the ongoing unrest in Manipur, which has seen over 260 deaths and 60,000 displaced individuals since May 2023.