“The question of who is driving conflict in the region is no longer rhetorical-it is increasingly evident from the pattern of actions unfolding on the ground” stated Kuki CSO Working Committee Ukhrul..
“On April 28, barely four days after the brutal attack on Mulam Kuki village, yet another grave provocation emerged. Credible local inputs confirmed the presence of suspected Tangkhul militant elements along the Kampa Mol (Mount Compass) ridges- recognized as shared cultivated land belonging to the Kuki villages of Yaolen Chepu, Mongkot Chepu, Lamlai Chingphei, and Mulam.
“Acting swiftly on this information, Kuki village volunteers undertook a preventive patrol with the clear and legitimate objective of securing and clearing the jungle areas within their own village land to ensure the safety of their people and necessitated by repeated threats and incursions.
“The inputs proved accurate. During the patrol, the volunteers encountered the intruding Tangkhul militants who had already entered the jungle areas of Kuki village land. The two sides collided within the shared border area, well inside the village domain, triggering an exchange of fire at approximately 11:10 A.M today.
“This incident raises serious and unavoidable questions. While certain Tangkhul CSO leaders continue to project narratives in the media portraying themselves as victims, how do such claims reconcile with the repeated presence of Tangkhul militants within Kuki village territories? How does one explain the stark disparity between public statements advocating peace and the continued pattern of aggressive ground actions and attempted intimidation?
“Such contradictions cannot be ignored any longer. They point toward a deliberate attempt to distort realities while enabling or overlooking actions aimed at eliminating Kuki villages through force.
“We have consistently stood for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. However, peace cannot be one-sided, nor can it coexist with repeated incursions and armed intimidation. The Kuki people remain resolute-while peace is our preference, the defence of our land, our rights, and our people is non-negotiable” added the statement issued by the Department of Information and Media, WCKCSOs-Ukhrul
