The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has condemned the burning of houses by trained military personnel, who are supposedly posted in the area to maintain peace and security in Moreh, a border town between India and Myanmar.
In a condemnation statement on Sunday, ITLF said, “The latest incident again highlights the fact that tension and violence will continue as long as armed Meitei forces are posted in tribal areas during an ethnic conflict involving the two sides.” It is also no secret that many Arambai Tenggol militants are embedded among the Meitei state forces with the blessing of authorities, it alleged.
Firing broke out between unidentified gunmen and Meitei commandos around 3:30 pm yesterday as the communal state forces were advancing towards Lhangkichoi Veng, a Kuki-Zo tribal settlement in the border town of Moreh.
Some commandos reportedly suffered injuries before the state forces retreated and ran inside an Assam Rifles camp. The commandos fired indiscriminately at the village and burned three civilian houses at Lhangkichoi Veng out of spite, thereby showcasing a blatant disregard for civilians and their wellbeing.
Spokesperson of ITLF, Ginza Vualzong said the incident in Moreh came after a gunfight near the tribal village of Nakhojang in Kangpokpi district earlier yesterday. Nakhojang and nearby Singda Kuki village were burned down by Meitei mobs on May 5, and all the villagers fled to relief camps.
After hearing reports that Arambai Tenggol cadres were preparing to attack tribal settlements and were camping at Nakhojang, tribal volunteers launched a search operation and were confronted by the militants around 3:00 am. In the ensuing gunfight, Jamesbond Ningomba, a member of Arambai Tenggol, was killed, while the others fled towards Kadangban, the nearest Meitei village
Ginza said Jamesbond Ningomba also works as a journalist for the Meitei vernacular “Naharolgi Thoudang” and is a key contributor to the anti-tribal propaganda of the Meitei media. Naharolgi Thoudang was edited by CM Biren Singh before he became a politician.
ITLF alleged that after news of the death of Jamesbond, Rajya Sabha MP Sanajaoba Leishemba had openly endorsed the Arambai Tenggol and expressed his condolences on Facebook, stating, “Oh…RIP… my beloved child.”
