Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur alleges extortions, assault and harassment by Kuki militants

KalimNews, Imphal, 9 September 2023 : Media Cell of Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur in a Press Communique has alleged of harassment, attack and extortions by Kuki militants. 

The press statement states  "It is an undeniable fact that majority of the Kukis are staying/taking shelter in the Nagas’ ancestral land especially in the general area of the unrecognised "Kangpokpi District", designed and created to gain political mileage, which was also opposed tooth and nail by the United Naga Council (UNC) and all indigenous people of Manipur."

"In the current scenario, the Kukis are availing their basic necessities and other amenities from the Naga areas specially from Senapati district. Moreover, till date there has been no untoward incident or obstruction caused to any individual irrespective of their communities by the Nagas. The Kukis including the displaced people are getting free access to any part of the Naga area." 

It further states that " however, in spite of the Good Samaritan approach extended by the Naga fellow citizens, the Kukis are repaying our good will by frequent extortion and physical harassment meted to indigenous Liangmai Naga travellers by imposing forceful illegal tax along the NH-2 and Imphal-Tamenglong (IT)-road in Kangpokpi area. The latest being an attempt to murder of an ex- chairman of a Liangmai Naga village who refused to pay tax demanded by two cadres of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), a militant outfit under Suspension of Operation (SoO) at Chalwa, IT Road on 5th Sept 2023. "

"It is strongly conveyed that the indigenous Liangmai Naga desires for a peaceful co-existence. As a peace loving and neutral Naga community, we cannot understand the

intent of the Kukis in perpetuating such a barbaric and incendiary acts again and again. Constant harassment of innocent travellers, threat and physical assault, extortion and collection of illegal taxes from petty traders such as vegetable and fruit sellers, charcoal makers have been meted out to the indigenous Naga people for years without any qualms. "

It has recalled some previous incidents : "We can recall some incidents and anti-social activities inflicted by the members of Kuki militants in the recent past.

(1) In January 2005, Mr. Champonbou, the Chairman of Tudon II was brutally beaten up and his front teeth were knocked out by Kuki militants at Chalwa in front of many people.

2) In October, 2007, the vehicle of the chairmen of Kadi village part III & IV, Mr. Wipoubou, Khangriangbou was stopped by the KRA at Chalwa Village. The KRA cadres demanded Rs. 10,000 and physically assaulted them and their companions for refusing to pay up since they did not have the money. 

(3) Yet again on 27 October 2017, Mr. Agombou, the Secretary of Tamei Centre Church, was brutally assaulted by the KRA cadres. He was detained for more than five hours and mercilessly kicked, slapped and even threatened that they would shoot him on his head. They snatched away his smartphone and his wallet containing Rs 7,800.

(4) In 2020, during the peak of the pandemic lockdown, the LPG supplier to Tamei was beaten up by the anti-social people at Chalwa village. In goodwill and love, as Christians the Naga communities have forgiven them without taking any action.

(5) On 2 May 2023, a truck carrying the monolith in the I.T road for the Celebration of Centenary at Tamei was forcefully stopped by Kuki Militants and they shamelessly snatched away Rs 1000

(6) In another tragic incident, a house belonging to a Naga widow was reduced to ashes by Kukis on 18 June, 2023 at Leimakhong. The fire completely burnt down the house and all her belongings were reduced to ashes.

(7) On 27 May 2023. Kukis militants came to Namdilong, Kanglatongbi village and fired with automatic weapons whereby infants, women, aged citizens, and sick people were frightened and woken up in the middle of the night."

The release states "The indigenous Liangmai Naga community sternly warns against any kind of extortions, physical assault and harassment meted to any Naga citizen in near future. Further, the indigenous Liangmai Naga community questions the Government of India and Government of Manipur on the free movement and widespread illegal and criminal activities of the Kuki militants who have already created a safe haven at IT road, Kangpokpi shielded as they are under the so called Suspension of operation.  We appeal to the Central government and State Government of Manipur to act on these anti-national elements at the earliest, failing which another avoidable communal conflict may erupt soon. The latest incident conjures up the worst imageries of the so called Kuki war of independence in 1917-1919. Armed as the Kukis were with Muzzle loading guns provided by their handlers, the Nagas suffered the most depraved acts of genocide whereby more than a thousand Nagas were slaughtered in most inhumane ways."