Fresh firing erupted in Churachandpur, resulting in the tragic death of two Kuki-Zo village volunteers and leaving three others injured in the early morning on Thursday.
After a gap of about three to four hours after the early morning firings stopped till 5:00 AM, a heavy exchange of gun-fire began again and is reportedly underway till the filing of this report, thus adding to the escalating tensions between the two ethnic communities.
The two Kuki volunteers who got martyrs are: Mr. Ngamneo (21yrs) and Mr. Hengoumang (20yrs). Mr. Nehtinsat (21yrs), Mr. Thehminthang (20yrs) and Mr. Jangminlun (21yrs) sustained injury and are treated in District Hospital, Churachandpur.
Vehemently condemning the incident, the Kuki Students’ Organisation, Churchandpur, alleged that the indiscriminate firings of the Manipur Police Commandos and Meitei armed militias upon the Kuki-Zo volunteers in the peripheral areas of Churachanpur, bordering Bishnupur district, left two precious lives lost and three other sustained injury.
In its press statement issued today, KSO alleged that the state forces have turned into outlaw organisations, proving yet again the state-sponsored terrorism against the Kuki-Zo community. It also demanded immediate removal of Manipur Police Commandos from the Kuki-Zo dominated area so as to prevent any further breakdown of law and order.
The firing occurred in Pholjang area, under Churachandpur district, in early morning at around 2:00 AM onwards on 7th of July, 2023 till 5:00 AM.
Expressing its deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their love ones, the KSO made it clear to all and sundry that the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs for the land and its people would not go in vain.
“As the Meiteis are our warring enemies as proclaimed by the Kuki Inpi Manipur (Consequent to the Meiteis’ declaration of war against us), we fervently appeal to all Kukis to fight back tooth and nail until our demands are fulfilled,” said KSO.
“In defense of our ancestral land and our people, KSO stands firm to the ground that we will not rest until our constitutional legitimate demands for separate administration is realized,” it added.
The Students’ body appealed all Kuki-Zo people to unitedly fight against their enemies till the last drop of their bloods.
KSO also urged the Government of India to immediately expedite the process of total separation of administration from the Meitei’s Manipur, so that they can live peacefully with mutual respect with one another in their respective defined boundary.
“Sooner is the better in formalization of Total Separation of administration from Manipur for the Kukis in order to bring permanent peace and normalcy in the Northeastern region,” KSO stated.
