Amid mounting tensions following the Kangpokpi killings, the KNF has urged the public and media to rely on verified facts, while reaffirming its commitment to the Suspension of Operations agreement.
BY PC Bureau
June 6, 2026: The Kuki National Front (KNF) has strongly denied allegations linking it to the deadly attack on Loibol Khullen village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, describing the accusations as “false, baseless and malicious” and part of a deliberate campaign to tarnish the organisation’s image.
The statement comes a day after armed assailants launched a pre-dawn attack on Loibol Khullen (also known as Loiboi Kholen) village in the Saitu-Gamphazol subdivision, killing three Kuki-Zo civilians and setting multiple houses ablaze.
The victims have been identified as Letkhongam Haokip (34), his wife Tinmary Haokip (25), and Jangminlal Haokip (30). At least seven houses were reportedly destroyed in the attack. Security forces rushed to the area after receiving reports of heavy gunfire around 4 a.m., but the attackers had fled before their arrival.
KNF Rejects Allegations
In a press communiqué issued on June 6, the KNF expressed condolences to the bereaved families and categorically denied any involvement in the violence.
“The Kuki National Front has taken serious note of the persistent allegations and deliberate attempts to falsely implicate the organisation in the attack on Loiboi Kholen Village,” the statement said. “The organisation has absolutely no involvement in the recent incidents of attacks on villages and civilians.”
The group asserted that attempts to portray the KNF as being involved in attacks against its own people were entirely unfounded and aimed at misleading the public.
As a signatory to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur, the KNF stated that its cadres remain confined to designated camps and continue to abide by the ground rules of the agreement.
Condemning what it termed the politicisation of a tragic incident, the organisation said such accusations served narrow interests and undermined efforts to restore peace.
“Repeating falsehoods does not transform them into facts,” the statement added. “These reckless accusations are an insult not only to the intelligence and discernment of the public but also to the Government of Manipur and the security agencies.”
Ethnic Tensions in the Hills
The attack has further heightened tensions in Manipur’s hill districts, where relations between sections of the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities have remained strained.
Several Kuki organisations, including the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), have alleged the involvement of Naga insurgent groups, particularly the NSCN-IM and its alleged proxy outfit, ZUF-K. These allegations are linked to ongoing disputes over land, territorial influence and inter-community tensions in parts of the hill areas.
While separate from the larger Meitei-Kuki conflict that erupted in May 2023, the incident has underscored the fragile security situation prevailing in the state and the growing concerns over multi-front ethnic violence.
Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh has condemned the killings as a “heinous and cowardly act” and directed security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Appeal for Restraint
The KNF urged political leaders, civil society organisations and media platforms to exercise restraint and refrain from making speculative statements before the completion of investigations.
“The constant attacks on Kuki-Zo villages, killing of innocent villagers and acts of arson must stop immediately,” the organisation said, adding that those responsible for fuelling unrest should be held accountable.
Reaffirming its commitment to peace, justice and communal harmony, the KNF stated that it would never support or participate in violence against innocent civilians and remains committed to upholding fundamental human rights.
The latest killings have once again drawn attention to the continuing instability in Manipur, where thousands remain displaced and political demands, including calls for a separate administration for Kuki-Zo areas, remain unresolved.
Security forces have intensified patrolling in the affected areas, while investigations into the Loibol Khullen attack are ongoing. As of Saturday evening, no group had claimed responsibility for the assault, and the situation in the area remained tense.
