Ukhrul: Fresh gunfire was reported at Ringui village in Ukhrul district, injuring several Naga village volunteers on Monday morning. The incident occurred just days after combing operation by security forces amid the ongoing tension in Manipur.
According to the Village Protection Committee (RVPC), a fresh gun firing was occurred at Ringui Horei Hills and Hamsan at around 4:40 am where Kuki armed groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) Pact launched an attacked on Naga Village Guard during their routine monitoring duties. The Committee said that the gunfire still continuing during the time of issuing the statement.
In the attack, several Naga Village Guards were reportedly sustained bullet injuries. However, the exact number of injured persons is yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
Strongly condemning the repeated unprovoked attacks by Kuki armed groups under SoO pact, the Committee expressed deep concern over the reports of Kuki armed terrorists with sophisticated weapons being stationed at multiple bunkers in and around Ringui Horei hills and Hamsan, from where repeated assaults have been perpetrated on the innocent villagers.
The Committee also stated that these repeated barbaric and terrorising acts are utterly intolerable and constitute a grave violation of the dignity, right to life and rightful ownership of the people of Ringui village.
The RVPV unequivocally denounced these atrocities carried out on their land and its people, and cautioned that these repeated acts of aggression will not be taken lightly.
Any further attempts to harm our innocent civilians and encroach upon our land will invite severe and uncompromising consequences, it warned.
The Committee further called upon the concerned authorities to immediately investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice by initiating necessary criminal proceedings to ensure that such incidents are never allowed to reoccur.
Meanwhile, the Kuki CSO Working Committee has accused the NSCn-Eastern Flank (EF) cadres for initiating the gun attack despite heavy security presence in the area.
According to the statement issued by the Kuki CSO Working Committee, the incident took place at around 3 am when armed militants attempted to enter Kuki-inhabitated areas through the Tongou pocket of the Kampa range.
The Kuki CSO WC said that the exchange of firing left one volunteer critically injured.
The committee further claimed that credible reports suggest NSCN (EF) approached security forces at Sinakeithei, allegedly seeking a three-day window of non-intervention. This raises serious concerns about accountability and the role of security forces on the ground.
Despite reports of escalating tension in the hill district, so far no official statement has been issued by the state government regarding the fresh firing at Ringui village.