Village burnt down by Kuki Militants amid rising tensions in northeastern India
by ShravyaA village in northeastern India’s Manipur has been completely destroyed by Kuki militants.
The incident took place at Lamtai Khunaou village in Phungyar Tehsil of Ukhrul District on June 7.
Visuals showed in the village, numerous wooden houses were engulfed in flames, with the intense heat reducing them to ashes. The fire spread rapidly, consuming entire structures and leaving behind smoldering remnants of what were once homes.
According to reports after a murder in Jiribam district, chaos and terror have spread in the villages around Jiribam, with numerous villages set ablaze and significant damage occurring. The escalating violence has left communities in turmoil, struggling to cope with the widespread destruction.
According to reports section 144 has been imposed in Manipur’s Jiribam district following the discovery of the mutilated body of a 59-year-old Meitei man, Soibam Saratkumar Singh, from a hillside in Mulargaon on Thursday evening. This incident has reignited long-standing ethnic hostilities, leading to widespread panic and violence in Jiribam and neighboring areas.
The deceased, identified as Soibam Saratkumar Singh from Sorok Atingbi Khunou locality, was reportedly abducted by unknown assailants while returning from his farm. According to his wife, Soibam Romola Devi, she and her son noticed suspicious activity and hurried home, leaving Saratkumar behind. His son later found Saratkumar’s two-wheeler and slippers by the roadside, prompting a search that led to the grim discovery of his body.
This brutal incident has triggered panic among residents, resulting in retaliatory arson attacks on several Kuki-Zo community settlements. The violence escalated with a mob storming the Jiribam police station, demanding the return of their licensed firearms surrendered during the election process.
In response, district administrations of Jiribam and neighboring Tamenglong imposed prohibitory measures under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), restricting movement outside residences until further notice. A police control room has been established to manage the situation. Tamenglong Superintendent of Police, Luikham Lanmiyo, assured that adequate security measures are in place, particularly at border areas to monitor movements from Jiribam.
The Young Kuki Civil Society Organisation (CSO) condemned the murder and the subsequent retaliatory attacks on Kuki settlements. They emphasized that such violence is unwarranted, especially as the identity of Saratkumar’s killers remains unknown. The CSO urged adherence to the Jiribam Peace Pact, which aims to maintain harmony among the Kuki, Naga, and Meitei communities. They also recalled a similar incident involving the murder of a Kuki youth, Seigoulen Singson, whose mutilated body was found near Moljol village two days after his disappearance on May 14.
As the situation remains tense, local authorities and community leaders are calling for calm, urging residents to adhere to peace agreements. The focus now is on maintaining order and ensuring that justice is served to prevent further escalation of the conflict.