Manipur: Kuki Inpi denies violence against non-locals in Jiribam

Guwahati: The Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong & Noney (KIJTN) has refuted a news report published on Northeast Now on July 12, titled "Manipur violence: Non locals forced to flee Tamenglong and Jiribam amid armed attacks."

The apex Kuki body claimed the report is "altogether false and unfounded," stating the Kuki-Zo and Hmar communities have never had hostility with other communities in Jiribam.

“The news claims that Kuki miscreants ordered non locals to vacate their villages which is totally baseless and unfounded since the Kuki-Zo & Hmar people of Jiribam never had any issue and hostility with any community till now,” the Kuki body said.

They alleged the Meitei community has been involved in land disputes with Kukis, Rongmei Nagas, Bengalis, and Hmars, with the "tacit support" of the district administration.

“…It is the Meitei people who in their greed for the lands of tribals and other settlers in Jiribam have been continuously having trouble with almost every community; the Kuki-Zo, the Rongmei-Nagas, the Bengalees and Hmars in Jiribam. With the tacit support of the District administration, the Meetei community had encroached and seized lands of every other community in Jiribam,” it added.

The KIJTN clarified gunfire reported on July 11 actually occurred on July 9 in Mongbung and Sejang villages, Kuki-Zo communities, and was an attack by militants repelled by Assam Rifles troops.

“There was heavy gunfire at Mongbung and Sejang Villages which are Kuki-Zo villages on 9 July. The heavy gunfire was an attack on the said two villages by the combined forces of Arambai Tenngol and UNLF cadres - a Meitei Separatist militant group - which was repelled by troops of 39th Assam Rifles who were stationed there. Combined Security Operation was conducted by Central forces the next day and the Manipur State Force created havoc by ransacking food items of Mongbung villagers. Kuki Civil Societies had given out a joint press condemnation in this regard the next day,” the outfit said.

They said that the location of the villages and failing to mention the alleged attackers, the Meitei separatist group Arambai Tenngol and UNLF.

The KIJTN further disputes the report that peace was disrupted on June 6 due to the death of a Meitei farmer.

Instead, they allege a young Kuki boy, Seigoulen Singson, went missing from a police checkpoint on May 14 and was later found dead in the Jiri River.