Ukhrul: The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex body of the community, has strongly condemned the killing of a member of a neutral central force deployed to restore order and peace in the conflict zone.
Expressing its deepest condolences to the bereaved family, the TNL also denounced what it described as a false narrative spread by certain individuals from the Kuki community and their civil society organisations (CSOs). It alleged that, without any proof or evidence, blame for the incident had been placed on the Tangkhul Nagas.
The TNL stated that Tangkhul Naga village volunteers have never targeted personnel of central security forces.
According to the TNL Working Committee, indiscriminate firing had been ongoing since the early afternoon of 20 April 2026 from Mongkot Chepu towards Sharkaphung, a Tangkhul Naga village in Kamjong district.
Amid this, a BSF jawan, identified as Mithun Mandal of the 170 Battalion, A Company, was reportedly hit while on duty in the Mongkot Chepu area during firing allegedly carried out by Kuki SoO cadres, and later succumbed to his injuries in the evening.
The organisation further alleged that since the outbreak of conflict in the Litan area, Kuki SoO cadres and armed villagers have remained on the offensive, repeatedly targeting Tangkhul Naga villages.
It claimed that Tangkhul village volunteers have exercised restraint and have not initiated attacks, responding only cautiously to what it termed unprovoked assaults.
The TNL added that the presence of central forces has provided a sense of safety and security to Tangkhul Naga civilians. It maintained that village volunteers are tasked with protecting their villages from repeated attacks by armed Kuki groups.
Meanwhile, the Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, claimed that a Tangkhul militant fired upon the BSF jawan from a red-roofed house at Litan Pharmila near the Litan Sareikhong cemetery.
The Kuki CSO further alleged that such bunkers have repeatedly been used to launch attacks on Mongkot Chepu, putting both civilians and security personnel at risk. It also claimed that forces on the ground have not retaliated to stop these attacks so far.
However, a ground report issued by the Litan Sareikhong Village Authority stated that the location in question was under the control of Manipur Rifles personnel at the time, rendering the allegation baseless.
The Village Authority said the incident occurred at around 4:45 pm, when Kuki militants allegedly opened fire towards Tangkhul volunteers from the Mongkot Chepu area.
The firing reportedly resulted in the fatal injury of a BSF personnel deployed in the conflict zone to maintain law and order.
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