Suspected Meitei Militants Target Kuki Villages with Bombs, Village Guard Sustains Minor Injury

Two days after the dead bodies of Kuki-Zo victims in Imphal were brought home by the central forces, the suspected Meitei militants renewed their attack using bombs on the Kuki areas situated in the periphery of Kakching-Churachandpur districts, injuring one Kuki village volunteer.

One of the volunteers guarding the village of Leisan, G. Songgel near Sugnu, Mr. Jamkhomang Baite sustained minor pellet injuries on his hands and back after several bombs were fired towards them from the nearby Meitei locality of Tanjeng Khunjao under Kakching district. He was taken to the Churchandpur district hospital and was discharged after treatment, officials said.

The incident happened at around 11:30 AM on Saturday, when the Meitei militants in Tanjeng Khunjao allegedly fired 4-5 mortals on the Kuki area. Some of the villagers alleged that upon inspection of the aftermath, the bombs were suspected to have been dropped using drones.

The incident occurred at the peripheral areas of Kakching and Lamka districts. Tangjeng Khunjao is under Sugnu AC in Kakching district while G. Songgel and Leisan fall under Samulamlan Sub-Division of Churachandpur district.

Recently a video went viral on social media wherein a Meitei youth can be seen testing out the bomb-dropping capabilities of a drone. The Meitei youth, in the viral video footage, conducted a purported "drone attack test" by using a drone meant for agricultural purposes. The test was said to be successful. The Kukis have apprehension that today's attack on Kuki villages might be a "drone attack" from the Meitei community.

As many as 60 death bodies from the Kuki-Zo community had been airlifted to their respective districts and the last rites of 19 have been performed for Kangpokpi district yesterday. For Churachandpur district, the last rite of the victims is expected on December 20, 2023.

According to the latest status update by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) on Saturday, a total of 158 Kuki-Zo people have died including 11 missing persons during the ongoing violence between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities.