The Kuki-Zo Council and Kuki Inpi Manipur condemned the assault as “brutal” and “premeditated,” urging immediate government action and warning against further escalation.
BY PC Burau
April 24 — A fresh outbreak of violence in Manipur’s Ukhrul district has sparked sharp reactions from Kuki civil society groups and triggered controversy over the airlifting of injured persons, even as conflicting accounts emerge from the ground.
According to statements issued by the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) and Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), Mulam and Songphel villages came under a coordinated armed attack in the early hours of Friday. Villagers reported initial gunfire around 1:00 AM, followed by intensified firing and arson at approximately 5:30 AM.
The KZC, in its press release, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “brutal” and alleging that it was carried out by a Tangkhul armed group. It said the assault resulted in the killing of two innocent villagers, the burning of around 15 houses, and injuries and displacement of several others, including women and children.
The organisation further stated that despite repeated provocations, the Kuki-Zo community has exercised restraint in the interest of peace, but warned that continued violence without “firm and decisive action” from the government could further aggravate the already fragile situation in the state.
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KZC also urged authorities and the public not to wrongly attribute blame to the Kuki-Zo community for incidents beyond their involvement, noting that all major Kuki organisations have denied any role in the recent TM Kasom incident. It appealed for restraint and called on all sides to allow investigations, including those by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), to establish the truth.
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Echoing similar concerns, Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) described the incident as a “premeditated attack” on vulnerable villages and demanded immediate intervention by the government, including deployment of central security forces, establishment of permanent security outposts, and arrest of those responsible. KIM also called for compensation and rehabilitation for affected families.
According to Kuki sources, the two deceased have been identified as Letlal (43) and Paominlun Haolai (19), who were reportedly among those defending the village. Several homes were destroyed in the attack, forcing residents to flee.
However, Naga groups presented a different version, stating that members of the Naga Village Guard (NVG) were ambushed near Sinakeithei village. One NVG member, Horshokmi Jamang (29), was killed, while four others were injured.
Some ammunition that was used in the Mulam attack today was seized by Kuki volunteers after NSCN-IM cadres were running helter-skelter for their lives. The ammunition has markings indicating it is government-issued ammunition.
Now, the question is: Did the Meitei state… pic.twitter.com/93o8sDev1U
— The Proud Indian (@DynastyDoungel) April 24, 2026
Injured Airlifted, Questions Raised
Amid the violence, two injured persons were airlifted to Imphal on Friday evening for advanced treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), officials said.
They were identified as:
- Ramshang (32) — bullet injury to the chin
- Shonshok (36) — bullet injury to the thigh, with multiple pellets still lodged
Two others — Horrei (26) and Ramnganing Mahon (34) — are being treated at Ukhrul District Hospital.
While officials said the evacuation was carried out due to the severity of injuries, the move has sparked allegations of bias, with Kuki civil society groups questioning the unequal access to helicopter evacuation services in conflict-hit areas. They claimed that the injured eprosns hardcore Naga militants who took part in the attack on the Kuki Village. However, it could not beindependently virifed that the airlifted persons were Naga militants.
In its statement, KZC also made an appeal for peace, urging all communities to reject violence and uphold coexistence, even as it warned that failure to act decisively could worsen tensions.
Authorities have yet to issue a detailed statement clarifying the circumstances of the clash and the subsequent airlift.
With tensions high and narratives sharply divided, the incident has once again highlighted the fragile security situation in Manipur’s hill districts and the urgent need for impartial enforcement and trust-building measures.
