At approximately 3:30 AM on 1st September 2026, a large group of heavily armed Kuki militants, reportedly numbering more than 300, launched a premeditated and coordinated armed attack on the defenseless Liangmai Naga villages of Pipuram Makui, Naga Tapon (Old) Village, and Naga Tapon Namsan (New) Village, under Sub-Division T. Waichong, Kangpokpi District, Manipur. The attack continued for several hours, reportedly lasting until approximately 12:30 PM, when security personnel finally reached the affected villages.
The armed Kuki militant cadres systematically surrounded all three villages simultaneously, demonstrating clear tactical planning aimed at trapping and terrorizing unarmed and innocent villagers, creating a situation of terror in which innocent and unarmed villagers were forced to flee for their lives. Houses were ransacked and subsequently set ablaze, while food stocks, granaries and essential livelihood assets were destroyed. Vehicles and other properties, including trucks, a JCB machine, two-wheelers, an Eeco Van and a Rice Mill, were also reportedly burnt and destroyed.
Extensive destruction of homes and property:
In Naga Tapon (Old) Village, eight houses, two trucks and a JCB were reportedly completely burnt down.
In Naga Tapon Namsan (New) Village, twelve houses, one truck, two-wheelers, an Eeco Van and a Rice Mill were reportedly gutted in the attack.
These were not merely attacks on buildings and property. The destruction of homes, food reserves, granaries, vehicles and livelihood assets represents a direct assault on the security, dignity and ability of innocent villagers to survive and rebuild their lives.
Injuries to innocent villagers:
During the attack, Sh. Luithuibou Newmai, Pastor of Tapon Naga (Old) Village, was shot and critically wounded while attempting to flee to safety.
Another villager, Sh. G. Abonmai, Vice President of the Youth Club of Naga Tapon Namsan (New) Village, was also wounded.
Serious questions over the security response:
Equally disturbing is the reported failure of the 112 Battalion CRPF, Echo Company, stationed at Banglabung approximately 2 kilometres from Tapon Naga Village, to respond despite repeated distress calls and immediate information about the ongoing attack.
Despite being repeatedly alerted and requested to provide security, the security personnel reportedly did not arrive until approximately 12:30 PM, after several hours of sustained attack and extensive destruction.
This raises serious questions regarding the security response and the prolonged delay in protecting the villagers. We therefore demand an immediate, impartial and time-bound inquiry into the delay, the distress calls received, the actions taken by the concerned personnel, and the reasons for their failure to reach the affected villages in time.
Our demands:
The sheer scale and nature of this attack demand immediate and uncompromising action from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government of Manipur and the concerned security and law-enforcement agencies.
We therefore demand:
1. Immediate deployment of permanent security forces including CAPF, Army/Assam Rifles or appropriate State forces within or in the immediate vicinity of Naga Tapon (Old), Naga Tapon Namsan (New) and Pipuram Makui, so that the villagers are provided continuous and effective protection.
2. Immediate security operations to locate, disarm and apprehend the armed militants responsible for the attack (~300+), along with all persons found to have participated in, facilitated or conspired in the attack, strictly in accordance with law.
3. A separate impartial inquiry into the reported failure and delay of the concerned security forces to respond, despite repeated distress calls and advance information regarding the attack.
4. Immediate government-funded specialized medical treatment for Sh. Luithuibou Newmai and Sh. G. Abonmai and all other persons injured in the attack.
5. Immediate humanitarian assistance, including food grains, essential supplies and temporary shelter, for families whose homes and food stocks have been destroyed.
6. Full and adequate compensation and rehabilitation for all destroyed houses, vehicles, agricultural and livelihood assets, food reserves and other properties.
7. Immediate measures to secure the vulnerable border areas and prevent further attacks, including strengthening permanent security infrastructure and establishing effective mechanisms for rapid emergency response.
We strongly condemn this premeditated and unprovoked armed attack. Such an attack is particularly alarming given that only a few days ago, four innocent Liangmai civilians were attacked and killed while travelling between Makui-Ashang and Thanamba Naga Village, in an area not far from the villages targeted today. The close proximity and timing of these incidents raise grave concerns over the continued and escalating threat to Liangmai Naga civilians and villages in the area.
The people of these villages cannot be left exposed and defenseless while armed groups continue to carry out attacks with impunity. We therefore call upon the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to take immediate and decisive action to protect the lives, homes and livelihoods of the Liangmai Naga people, ensure security in these vulnerable villages, and bring those responsible to justice.
Issued by Media Cell
Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur
