IT News
Imphal, April 5:
Even as the Union Ministry of Home Affairs attempts to facilitate peace between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities through a series of high-level dialogues, the situation on the ground remains volatile. In a fresh outbreak of violence this morning, armed Kuki militants launched an attack on members of the Liangmai community in Konsaram village, severely injuring two key village leaders.
According to reports, a group of approximately 700 to 800 armed Kuki men and boys descended upon Zeliangrong Colony in Konsaram, inhabited by members of the Liangmai Naga community. In the assault, seven to eight individuals were reportedly beaten, with Village Chief Aimson Abonmai (65) and Village Chairman D. Adam (40) sustaining serious injuries. Their vehicles were also vandalised during the attack. Both injured leaders were immediately rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal for urgent medical treatment.
The unprovoked violence has reignited tensions between communities in the region, particularly as it follows a previous incident that had already strained inter-ethnic relations. On January 7, 2025, a Liangmai woman working on her farmland in Konsakhul was reportedly assaulted by armed Kuki militants, who also destroyed her mobile phone. The incident triggered widespread outrage among the Liangmai people and led to increased unease in the surrounding areas.
Two days after that incident, on January 9, fresh unrest broke out in Konsakhul and adjoining villages, with Liangmai community members protesting against the repeated targeting of civilians and the perceived inaction of the authorities. Today’s attack has only deepened fears that the ground situation is rapidly deteriorating, despite peace-building efforts initiated by the Centre.
While the Union Home Ministry continues to engage with selected representatives of the Kuki, Zo, and Meitei communities in New Delhi, many civil society organisations and affected groups have expressed concern over the exclusion of key voices and the failure to address the ongoing violence in vulnerable areas. The repeated targeting of Liangmai civilians and community leaders points to a pattern of hostility that remains unaddressed on the ground.
Local leaders are now calling for immediate intervention by both the state and central governments to stop further attacks and ensure the safety of residents in mixed and peripheral villages. They have demanded stronger security presence, neutralisation of armed groups, and a comprehensive investigation into the recurring assaults on the Liangmai community.
As tensions remain high, today’s violence serves as a stark reminder that peace on paper cannot substitute for real security and justice for those affected by the conflict on the ground.
