The Tangkhul Naga community and Tangkhul Aze Katamnao Long (TAKL) today strongly condemned the alleged cross-border attack carried out by suspected militants of the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) backed by the People’s Defence Force (PDF) on several Tangkhul villages located along the sensitive Indo-Myanmar border in Kamjong district.
In separate statements issued today, the organisations alleged that nearly 100 heavily armed militants crossed into Indian territory from Myanmar and launched coordinated attacks on multiple Tangkhul villages during the early hours of the day.
According to the statements, the attacks began around 3:30 am to 4 am, targeting the border villages of Choro village, Wanglee village, Namlee village, Ashang Khullen, also known as KAKA, and Aloyo village.
The organisations alleged that the attackers carried out multi-directional assaults using sophisticated weapons, including drone-assisted attacks, and opened indiscriminate fire from several locations simultaneously, triggering panic among villagers.
According to the Tangkhul Naga community, more than 15 houses were reportedly burnt down in Choro village under Kamjong subdivision, while one civilian sustained injuries during the attack. The statement further alleged that villagers were rounded up and tortured by the armed assailants.
The attack reportedly occurred near an outpost of Assam Rifles situated between Choro and Aloyo villages.
In Namlee village, a woman allegedly sustained a bullet injury on her left thigh after being shot during the firing, while one house was reportedly set ablaze. In Wanglee village under Kasom Khullen subdivision, at least two dwelling houses were reduced to ashes.
The attacks reportedly forced large numbers of villagers, including women, children, and elderly persons, to flee into nearby forests and hill areas for safety. Several persons were also reported missing at the time of filing this report.
Condemning the violence, the Tangkhul Naga community described the incident as an act of “external aggression” on Indian soil and expressed serious concern over the alleged involvement of Myanmar-based militant groups operating along the border.
The statement further claimed that the affected villages had been sheltering civilians fleeing violence from Myanmar over the past several years and alleged that the latest attack targeted vulnerable communities already affected by prolonged instability in the border region.
Both the Tangkhul Naga community and TAKL raised serious questions over the role and response of security agencies stationed in the area. The organisations alleged that the attack took place shortly after visits by Central Security Forces to the border villages and questioned how such a large group of armed militants managed to infiltrate across the international boundary.
The statements also alleged possible intelligence leakage and expressed concern that security personnel stationed nearby did not intervene effectively during the attack. The Tangkhul Naga community further alleged that instead of protecting villagers, a member of the Naga Village Guard (NVG) was reportedly detained during the incident.
TAKL stated that repeated attacks occurring soon after security forces vacate border areas have severely eroded public confidence in the Central Security Forces among local residents.
Demanding urgent intervention, the student body called for immediate deployment of Manipur Police personnel and commandos in the affected villages to prevent further attacks and ensure protection of civilians residing along the border.
The organisations also demanded a transparent investigation into the alleged cross-border infiltration and sought accountability from authorities over recurring security lapses in the sensitive frontier areas.
Appealing to the Government of India to intervene immediately, the Tangkhul Naga community urged the Centre to clarify its stand and take concrete measures to safeguard the sovereignty, security, and lives of people residing in the Indo-Myanmar border villages.
“The safety and security of indigenous people residing along the extreme border areas must be prioritised,” TAKL stated.