Three injured as gunfights escalate in Ukhrul

At least three persons – two Tangkhul (Naga) and a Kuki – sustained bullet injuries as gunfights in Manipur’s Ukhrul–Kamjong foothill belt escalated on Tuesday.
The two injured Tangkhul individuals were identified as Rinyui Ramror(41) and Raichan Lungleng (24), both from Sharkaphung village while the injured Kuki man is Johny Khongsai of Mongkot Chepu.
The two injured Tangkhul individuals were rushed to Ukhrul district hospital with bullet injuries on their thigh and leg, respectively. Their conditions were stated to be in critical conditions.
Reports said that the two Tangkhul individuals sustained injuries in an attack by suspected Kuki militants at their village Sharkaphung village today morning, around 5.30 am.
They were reportedly in the quarter of the pastor of the village church and reliable sources alleged the attackers might have used a sniper gun to shoot them from a far distance.
The Kuki individual said to be an armed volunteer was allegedly injured after being hit in the back by splinters of a bomb blast in another firing incident at Mongkot Chepu village. He has been admitted to a community health centre at Saikhul sub-division of Kangpokpi district.
Reports said that using sophisticated weapons, suspected Kuki militants have been firing toward the Sharkaphung, a Tangkhul village in Kamjnog district but under the jurisdiction of Litan police station of Ukhrul district since yesterday evening. With the Tangkhul village volunteers returning the firing, the exchange of fire continued till late in the evening and after cessation for some hours, the firing reportedly commenced again on Tuesday morning, around 5.30 am resulting in the injury of the two villagers. Around the same time, a heavy change of fire was reported in the periphery of the Mongkot Chepu village under the same Litan police station of Ukhrul district, resulting in the injury of the Kuki village volunteer.
The escalating gun confrontation prompted the suspension of classes in schools in and around the affected areas even as security forces and police rushed to the affected areas to assess the situation and prevent further escalation. Meanwhile, Kamjong district administration on Tuesday ordered all arm license holders within Kamjong sub-division of the district to surrender and deposit their arms and ammunition immediately at Chassad police station or to the office of the district SP.
The step has been taken up in view of the prevailing volatile law and order situation at Kamjong district headquarters, the Kamjong district magistrate stated in an order issued today.
Tensions remained high in the Litan area of Ukhrul district following recent developments, including the abduction of 21 passengers by Kuki groups on March 11 and the recovery of two Kuki bodies after the passengers were released the following day.
The tensions heightened after suspected Kuki militants repeatedly attacked Sanakeithel, a Tangkhul village in the following days. Amid the heightened tensions and reports of firing from multiple locations, a 17-year-old girl was injured in alleged firing at Mongkot Chepu, a Kuki village close to the Sanakeithel yesterday (Monday). The Central Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organisation (TNFO) has been alleging that several Naga (Tangkhul)-inhabited villages, including Kamjong, Sharkaphung and Thoyee, were targeted.
The TNFO strongly alleged the involvement of Kuki militants under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) truce using sophisticated weapons in the attacks which Kuki CSOs denied.
After the fresh attacks starting from Monday night, the Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organisation (TNFO) once again sought urgent intervention from the state government on the ‘ongoing acts of violence by Kuki militants under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement’. In the latest statement issued on Tuesday, the TNFO alleged that Kuki militants attacked at three different locations since last night, including at the Chassad-Kamjong axis, Shangkai, and Chepu.
Denouncing the attacks and raising serious concern about the incidents, the body urged deployment of two platoons of security forces at Sinakeithei village, one platoon each of Manipur Rifles/ Indian Reserve Battalion at Hongman, Mapao Zingsho, and Mapao Zingtun, and additional forces at Sharkaphung and Thoyee to secure the safety of civilians.
It also sought upgradation of the Litan Police station to the level of Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO),
Meanwhile, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) Working Committee and Kamjong Students’ Union strongly condemned the latest attacks by ‘Kuki militants’ in Sharkaphung (Sikiphung) and Kamjong headquarters.
While condemning the latest attack, the TNL, the apex body of the Tangkhul Nagas in Ukhrul district, demanded a ‘probe into the security forces who have been found complicit with the Kuki militants, and award a befitting punishment’.
The body alleged that armed Kuki miscreants’ attack on the civilian populace at Kamjong district headquarters was carried out despite the presence of the Assam Rifles.
The attacks In the vicinity of the 11 Assam Rifles unit camp and police station were the acts of an absolute challenge to the established state and Central authorities, the alleged.
The attack, carried out despite the presence of the security forces, forced the evacuation of more than 40 Tangkhul Naga families, including women and children, it added.
Further, the TNL accused the Assam Rifles of complicity in the act, stating that “Even more shocking is the revelation that Assam Rifles have directly warned the civilians at Kamjong headquarters that any form of retaliation towards the Kuki militants by the Tangkhul Naga volunteers would be met with violence from their end which proves that the AR are hand in glove with the Kuki militants.”
On the other hand, the Kamjong Students’ Union issued a 24-hour deadline to the relevant authorities in Chassad to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those responsible, and present them before the appropriate authority.
Failure to take timely and decisive action will compel the students’ union to take appropriate measures in the interest of safeguarding public safety, including the imposition of a complete ban on all Kuki movements within the Kamjong headquarters area, it warned, in a statement.