Kangpokpi: Several Kuki civil and tribal organisations have strongly condemned the reported burning of houses in Kangchup Songlung (II) village in Kangpokpi district, allegedly carried out by a ZUF faction under the leadership of S. Kamson. In separate press statements issued on Republic Day, the groups described the incident as an act of terror, criminal vigilantism, and a grave failure of state protection.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) denounced what it called the “criminal destruction of civilian property,” rejecting any justification for violence in the name of law enforcement or identity. The organisation said no armed group or self-styled authority has the legal or moral mandate to enforce laws through force. ITLF also dismissed allegations linking the affected villagers to poppy cultivation, stating that such claims must be examined only by competent authorities through due process.
According to ITLF, K. Songlung village had previously been attacked and its residents displaced during earlier ethnic violence. The group said villagers had been attempting to rebuild permanent homes when they were allegedly targeted again. It termed the repeated attacks on displaced civilians a serious breakdown of governance and law enforcement, allowing “violent actors to operate with impunity.”
The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Sadar Hills, issued what it called an “unequivocal rebuttal” to earlier claims reportedly made by ZUF (S. Kamson). KSO maintained that K. Songlung villagers have never engaged in poppy cultivation and that their livelihoods are based on organic fruit and vegetable farming. The student body described the accusations as “false, fabricated and deliberately misleading,” alleging they were meant to justify arson and intimidation.
KSO further argued that invoking terms such as “indigenous land” to rationalise violence amounted to a misuse of identity discourse. It stressed that land and identity-related disputes fall within the framework of the Constitution and the judiciary, not armed groups. The organisation called on the Union Government and the Governor to identify and prosecute those responsible, ensure protection for displaced civilians, and provide relief, rehabilitation, and compensation to affected families.
The Sadar Hill Chiefs’ Association (SAHILCA) also expressed shock over the incident, stating that K. Songlung is a recognised Kuki village under traditional chieftainship and has never cultivated poppy. SAHILCA accused ZUF of falsely claiming legitimacy for “terrorist acts” carried out under the pretext of acting against narcotics cultivation. The body announced a 24-hour window for those responsible to acknowledge wrongdoing and compensate villagers for property loss and psychological trauma, warning of further steps if this did not happen.
Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), Sadar Hills, linked the incident to what it described as growing insecurity for Kuki-Zo villages in the region. COTU criticised the government’s response and urged immediate action against the perpetrators. The organisation also warned of strong measures, including a proposed shutdown of key highways, if authorities fail to act within a stipulated timeframe.
