Kangpokpi: The Kuki National Front (KNF) on Friday strongly denied allegations linking the organisation to recent incidents of violence in Manipur’s hill districts, including attacks on Loibol Kholen, Kultuh and Langka villages, as well as the alleged abduction and killing of six Konsakhul villagers.
The KNF stated that certain media houses, social media users and panelists in television discussions had repeatedly accused the organisation of involvement in killings, attacks on villages and factional clashes. The group described such allegations as “false” and “unverified.”
The organisation categorically rejected claims that it had any role in the attack on Konsakhul villagers following the burning of Kharam Vaiphei village, including allegations surrounding the abduction and killing of six villagers. “The Kuki National Front has no involvement in the incidents as alleged,” the statement asserted.
The KNF further alleged that some journalists, civil society leaders and politicians were irresponsibly circulating unverified accusations linking the group to the recent unrest in the hill areas of Manipur. It urged media organisations to verify facts on the ground before publishing reports and accused certain individuals of spreading propaganda aimed at disrupting the ongoing political dialogue concerning the Kuki-Zo people.
According to the statement, the present unrest in the hills was being “engineered” by some political and social actors with the intention of obstructing the long-awaited political settlement process being pursued under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
The outfit also defended the existence of Kuki Village Volunteers, stating that such volunteer groups were formed across Kuki areas after the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Kukis and Meiteis in May 2023. It claimed that these volunteers have been protecting Kuki villages, lives and properties from attacks by “Arambai Tenggol and valley-based insurgent groups.”
The KNF maintained that despite these efforts, Kuki villages continue to face attacks and arson allegedly carried out by “Meitei and Naga militants.” The statement added that village volunteers reserve the right to defend their people and ancestral land.
Calling attempts to implicate the KNF in recent violence “malicious,” the organisation said such moves were politically motivated and intended to derail the ongoing peace and political dialogue with the Government of India.
Reaffirming its position as a signatory to the SoO agreement with the Government of India, the KNF stated that it remains committed to resolving the “age-old political issue of the Kuki-Zo people” through political dialogue rather than armed confrontation.
