The Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers alleged that Tangkhul-Liangmei Naga militants linked to the NSCN-IM attacked farmers from Wakotphai Village, and demanded an immediate and impartial investigation.
BY PC Bureau
August 27, 2026: Tension escalated in Kangpokpi district on Thursday morning following reports of an alleged armed attack on Kuki farmers near Naibet along the Imphal-Tamenglong (IT) Road, with local sources attributing the assault to cadres allegedly linked to the NSCN-IM.
According to local reports, the incident took place at around 9:20 a.m. on August 27. Kuki farmers from Wakotphai Village, who had stayed overnight in temporary huts near their paddy fields to protect their crops, reportedly came under heavy gunfire while working in the fields.
Local Kuki-Zo village volunteers reportedly responded to the attack and exchanged fire with the alleged attackers while attempting to protect the farmers and facilitate their withdrawal from the area.
The incident has heightened concerns over the safety of Kuki-Zo farmers and villagers living and working along the IT Road, a corridor that has witnessed repeated security tensions and reported attacks on peripheral settlements.
Community leaders have warned that continued armed incidents could further threaten agricultural livelihoods, leaving villagers increasingly vulnerable while cultivating their ancestral lands.
KZVV condemns alleged attack, demands action
The Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers (KZVV), Twilang Lhang, strongly condemned the reported attack on what it described as unarmed Kuki farmers from Wakotphai Village near Naibet and called for immediate action by the authorities.
In a press release, the KZVV said the farmers had stayed overnight in a hut at their paddy fields before coming under attack at around 9:20 a.m. It claimed that a combined group of Tangkhul-Liangmei Naga militants, allegedly operating under the leadership of the NSCN-IM, carried out the assault.
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The organisation described the incident as particularly disturbing because the IT Road area had remained relatively peaceful despite the wider conflict in Manipur. It warned that the alleged attack could disrupt the fragile peace and normalcy that communities along the corridor had been trying to preserve.
The KZVV described the incident as a serious provocation at a time when the Kuki community in the area has been advocating dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.
It condemned attacks on civilians and farmers and stressed that unarmed civilians must not be targeted under any circumstances.
The KZVV demanded that authorities:
- Immediately identify and arrest those responsible;
- Conduct a transparent and impartial investigation;
- Issue a clear public statement on the incident;
- Ensure the safety of farmers and civilians along the IT Road; and
- Take immediate measures to prevent further escalation.
The organisation warned that continued inaction or failure to hold those responsible accountable could further deteriorate the law-and-order situation in the area.
It reiterated that its stated objective remains the protection of civilians, restoration of normalcy and preservation of peace along the IT Road, and urged the government and security agencies to act swiftly, firmly and impartially to prevent the incident from developing into a larger confrontation.
As of the latest reports, casualty figures, injuries and the extent of any property damage could not be independently verified. The allegations regarding the identity and affiliation of the attackers also remain unverified.
The reported incident comes amid continuing security concerns in the hill districts of Manipur, where tensions between armed groups and local village defence volunteers remain high.
