KANGPOKPI: A nationwide justice rally organised by the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) was overshadowed on Saturday by fresh violence after armed assailants allegedly attacked Kharam Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district, setting multiple houses ablaze and triggering widespread condemnation from Kuki-Zo civil society organisations.
According to local sources, suspected cadres of the ZUF-Kamson group launched an assault on the village at around 2:15 pm, reportedly hurling bombs and opening fire with sophisticated weapons. The village, situated near the Leimakhong Army Headquarters, came under attack while thousands of Kuki-Zo people were participating in nationwide demonstrations demanding justice for three slain church leaders and the release of 14 Kuki-Zo hostages.
At least five houses were reportedly reduced to ashes during the attack.
The incident has raised serious concerns over the effectiveness of security arrangements in the area. Villagers alleged that personnel of the CRPF’s 158 Battalion and the Gorkha Rifles were present in the village when the attack occurred but failed to take action against the assailants.
Residents described the attack as a major security lapse, claiming that armed attackers operated freely despite the deployment of security forces in the conflict-prone region. Sources further stated that security personnel later recovered at least three lathod bomb shell casings from the site.
News of the attack quickly spread among participants of the rally in Kangpokpi, sparking outrage and condemnation.
Protesters accused the administration and security establishment of failing to safeguard civilians despite the heavy presence of forces in sensitive areas.
Slogans such as “Police Failure, Village Inflamed” and “Justice for Kharam Vaiphei” echoed through the rally venue as demonstrators demanded accountability and immediate action against those responsible.
The latest incident has intensified concerns among Kuki-Zo organisations, which have repeatedly alleged that vulnerable villages continue to face attacks despite assurances from authorities regarding their security.
Strongly condemning the burning of Kharam Vaiphei village, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) alleged that the attack was carried out by the ZUF-Kamson group and described it as a deliberate attempt to inflame tensions between communities.
Terming the incident a “reprehensible and provocative act,” KIM said attacks on civilian settlements and the destruction of homes posed a direct threat to innocent residents and undermined efforts towards peace and coexistence.
The apex tribal body stated that the Kuki-Zo community had exercised maximum restraint despite repeated provocations and security challenges. However, it cautioned that continued attempts to intimidate or threaten the community and its ancestral lands could not be ignored indefinitely.
“Kuki-Zo people shall never compromise when it comes to safeguarding their lands, protecting the lives and security of their people, and defending the welfare and future of the community,” KIM stated.
The organisation urged the government and security agencies to conduct an impartial investigation, identify those responsible, and take immediate measures to prevent further deterioration of the law-and-order situation. It further warned that failure to act decisively would only embolden forces seeking to destabilise inter-community relations and undermine efforts to restore normalcy.
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), a human rights body with UN consultative status, also condemned the incident and accused both the government and security agencies of failing to protect civilians.
KOHUR alleged that armed cadres of NSCN-IM and ZUF-K were responsible for the attack, describing it as a “calculated assault” on unarmed civilians. The organisation noted that the incident occurred shortly after the redeployment of Central Armed Police Force personnel in the area, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of security arrangements.
“The forces tasked with maintaining law and order failed to protect civilians and their homes from armed attackers,” KOHUR stated.
The organisation further alleged that repeated attacks on Kuki-Zo villages in the Leimakhong belt over the past two years had gone largely unpunished, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. It maintained that the absence of arrests and prosecutions in previous incidents had emboldened armed groups and fostered a climate of impunity.
Calling for an independent and time-bound investigation, KOHUR demanded the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the latest attack as well as previous incidents of violence in the region. It also sought accountability for what it termed the failure of deployed security personnel to prevent the attack despite their presence nearby.
The organisation urged the Government of India, the National Human Rights Commission and international human rights bodies to take cognisance of the incident and ensure justice, rehabilitation and compensation for affected families.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), South West Sadar Hills Block, also condemned the attack, describing it as a grave security failure.
The student body alleged that armed groups linked to the NSCN-IM’s ZUF-K faction targeted Kharam Vaiphei village and torched several houses despite the deployment of central security forces and ongoing operations in the area.
“The burning of civilian homes under the watch of security forces raises disturbing questions about the effectiveness of measures being taken to protect vulnerable villages,” the organisation stated.
The KSO maintained that the Kuki community had consistently cooperated with authorities in efforts to restore peace and normalcy and questioned why such cooperation had not translated into stronger protection for civilians.
Demanding an explanation from security agencies regarding what it termed “one-sided security arrangements,” the organisation called for immediate and decisive measures to prevent further violence, ensure the safety of residents and bring those responsible to justice.
The attack on Kharam Vaiphei comes at a particularly sensitive time, as Kuki-Zo organisations across Manipur continue to press for justice, security and accountability amid ongoing ethnic tensions. With fresh allegations of security failure and renewed violence emerging, the incident is expected to further heighten concerns over the fragile law-and-order situation in the region.
