IT News
Imphal, Sept 9:
The Liangmai Naga Council said that in spite of the good Samaritan approach extended by the Naga fellow citizens, the Kukis are repaying our goodwill through frequent extortion and physical harassment meted out to indigenous Liangmai Naga travellers by imposing a forceful illegal tax along the NH-2 and Imphal-Tamenglong (IT) roads in the Kangpokpi area. The latest was an attempt to murder an ex-chairman of a Liangmai Naga village who refused to pay tax demanded by two cadres of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), a militant outfit under Suspension of Operation (SoO) at Chalwa, IT Road, on September 5, 2023.
The Council further states that it is an undeniable fact that the majority of the Kukis are staying or taking shelter in the Nagas’ ancestral land, especially in the general area of the unrecognised “Kangpokpi District”, designed and created to gain political mileage, which was also opposed tooth and nail by the United Naga Council (UNC) and all indigenous people of Manipur.
In the current scenario, the Kukis are getting their basic necessities and other amenities from the Naga areas, especially Senapati district. Moreover, till date, there has been no untoward incident or obstruction caused to any individual, irrespective of their community, by the Nagas. The Kukis, including the displaced people, are getting free access to any part of the Naga area.
It is strongly conveyed that the indigenous Liangmai Naga desire peaceful coexistence. As a peace-loving and neutral Naga community, we cannot understand the intent of the Kukis in perpetuating such barbaric and incendiary acts again and again. The constant harassment of innocent travellers, threats and physical assault, extortion, and collection of illegal taxes from petty traders such as vegetable and fruit sellers and charcoal makers have been meted out to the indigenous Naga people for years without any qualms.
The LNC recalls some incidents and anti-social activities inflicted by Kuki militants in the recent past. On January 5, 2005, Champonbou, the Chairman of Tudon II, was brutally beaten up, and his front teeth were knocked out by Kuki militants at Chalwa in front of many people.
On October 7, 2007, the vehicle of the chairmen of Kadi Village parts III and IV, Mr. Wipoubou, Khangriangbou, was stopped by the KRA at Chalwa Village. The KRA cadres demanded Rs. 10,000 and physically assaulted them and their companions for refusing to pay up since they did not have the money. Yet again, on October 27, 2017, Mr. Agombou, the Secretary of Tamei Centre Church, was brutally assaulted by the KRA cadres. He was detained for more than five hours and mercilessly kicked, slapped, and even threatened that they would shoot him in the head. They snatched away his smartphone and his wallet, which contained Rs 7,800.
Also, in 2020, during the peak of the pandemic lockdown, the LPG supplier to Tamei was beaten up by the anti-social people at Chalwa village. In goodwill and love, as Christians, the Naga communities have forgiven them without taking any action.
Again, on May 2, 2023, a truck carrying the monolith on the I.T. road for the Celebration of Centenary at Tamei was forcefully stopped by Kuki Militants, and they shamelessly snatched away Rs 1000. In another tragic incident, a house belonging to a Naga widow was reduced to ashes by Kukis on June 18, 2023, at Leimakhong. The fire completely burned down the house, and all her belongings were reduced to ashes. Furthermore, on May 27, 2023. Kukis militants came to Namdilong, Kanglatongbi village, and fired with automatic weapons, causing infants, women, elderly citizens, and sick people to be frightened and wake up in the middle of the night.
The indigenous Liangmai Naga Council lastly warns against any kind of extortion, physical assault, and harassment meted out to any Naga citizen in the near future. Further, the indigenous Liangmai Naga community questions the Government of India and the Government of Manipur on the free movement and widespread illegal and criminal activities of the Kuki militants, who have already created a safe haven at IT Road, Kangpokpi shielded as they are under the so-called suspension of operation. We appeal to the central government and state government of Manipur to act on these anti-national elements at the earliest, failing which another avoidable communal conflict may erupt soon. The latest incident conjures up the worst images of the so-called Kuki War of Independence in 1917–1919. Armed as the Kukis were with muzzle-loading guns provided by their handlers, the Nagas suffered the most depraved acts of genocide, whereby more than a thousand Nagas were slaughtered in the most inhumane ways.
