Tribal civilian brutally killed, 5 abducted, houses including churches belonging to Kuki-Zo community torched

A group of individuals, clad in black shirts, allegedly identified as members of the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, has reportedly killed a Kuki-Zo villager, abducted another 5 and set to fire 29 houses including three churches on Langza and Chinglangmei villages of Churachandpur district, about 70 km southeast of Imphal, in an early morning at around 4:00 PM on Sunday.

While expressing its outrageous and condemning the heinous attack on the tribal villages, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) claimed that such brazen act of violence was perpetrated by a group of individuals, clad in black t-shirts, allegedly identified as members of the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, accompanied by a convoy of around 20 trucks suspected to contain members of Meira Paibis, which further intensified the assault on the village.

In its press release, ITLF said the assailants callously looted the properties of the innocent villagers during the attack, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Subsequently, the assailants proceeded to set fire to 26 houses and three churches (Independent Church of India, Evangelical Assembly Church, and Reformed Presbyterian Church), inflicting irreparable damage on the Kuki-Zo community.

Stating that several village tribal volunteers were present during the terrifying ordeal, the tribal leaders stated that one of the villagers namely, David Hmar lost his life  while two women and some men managed to escape. The assailants cruelly severed David’s neck and displayed his head on a fence, before callously discarding his body into one of the engulfed houses.

ITLF stated that such an act of savagery demonstrated a complete disregard for human life and a reprehensible contempt for the tribal community.

The ITLF further stated that they were deeply disturbed by the abduction of five innocent villagers, which added to the already devastating impact of the ongoing spree of looting, murder, and arson in the tribal villages since May 3, 2023.

"Such reprehensible act further highlights the urgent need for immediate action to ensure the safety and security of the tribal communities in Outer Manipur," ITLF stated.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders called upon the President of India, the Prime Minister and concerned Union Minister and others at Raisina Hill to take swift and decisive action to bring the perpetrators of such heinous crimes to justice.

Raising their doubts, the tribal leaders also asked to why President's Rule is yet to be imposed in the strife-torn State and also asked whether the Central Government was waiting for the state-sponsored, Meitei-centric majority government of Manipur to complete the ethnic cleansing of the tribal community.

The ITLF also called upon the national and international community, human rights organizations and concerned individuals to unite in condemning the ongoing pogrom by the Meiteis.

The tribal body said it continues to stand in solidarity with all the Kuki-Zo tribal communities during such dark and trying time, remains steadfast and resolute in its commitment to safeguard the lands, rights and identity of the Kuki-Zo in Outer Manipur. It also avowed that it would not be bogged down by such inhuman atrocities unleashed upon the Kuki-Zo community and would stand tall and persevere in any eventual situation.