Four persons, including a Naga woman, were reportedly still missing on Friday following a deadly pre-dawn attack by suspected Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) forces on villages along the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipurâs Kamjong district, even as villagers raised serious allegations against Assam Rifles and demanded the removal of its outpost at Ashang Khullen.
According to reports from Ukhrul Times, the coordinated attack took place around 4:10 am on Thursday, targeting Wanglee Market, Namlee, and Choro villages near the border.
Several houses were reportedly set on fire during the assault, forcing villagers to flee.
Among those still missing is Olina Ningshen from Kangpat village. Three Burmese refugee families who had been taking shelter at Wanglee Market were also untraceable at the time of reporting.
Another missing person, Zingran Ningshen, secretary of Wanglee Market, returned home later in the evening after escaping the attack. His house had been completely burned down, leading to fears earlier in the day that he had been abducted.
Reports said NSCN-IM cadres stationed in the area retaliated, forcing the attackers to withdraw. No casualties among Naga forces were reported, though witnesses claimed some attackers may have been injured during the exchange.
Eyewitnesses alleged that the attackers used sophisticated weapons and lathode bombs, looted vehicles, cash, phones, and motorbikes, and burned homes and shops.
The attack also displaced a large number of civilians, including Myanmarese refugees and Vaiphei families already sheltering in the area due to conflict in Myanmar. Many have now taken refuge in Wanglee village, where local Tangkhul communities, civil society groups, and nearby villages are providing food and shelter.
Local sources said more than 100 displaced persons, including children and elderly people, are currently taking shelter there.
Villagers have also levelled serious allegations against Assam Rifles personnel stationed at Ashang Khullen and Bungdung, questioning their movements before the attack and why nearby Ashang Khullen trade centre reportedly remained untouched while neighbouring villages were attacked.
Based on these suspicions, villagers have demanded the immediate removal of the Assam Rifles outpost at Ashang Khullen.
However, Tangkhul civil bodies, including Tangkhul Naga Aze Longphang and Tangkhul Aze Katamnao Long, have also reportedly sought Assam Riflesâ assistance in tracing the missing persons.
The situation remains tense, with local MLA Leishiyo Keishing expected to visit the affected area.
The incident comes amid continuing ethnic instability in Manipur, where political tensions also escalated with BJP spokesperson Elangbam Johnson resigning from the party, alleging failure of leadership in handling the prolonged crisis since May 2023.
Meanwhile, the All Naga Studentsâ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) ANSAM has also sought the immediate intervention of the concerned authority to release the Naga civilians abducted by the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) and demanded for deployment of Manipur state forces and specialised State Commando units to affected Naga villages and vulnerable areas by removing all the central forces, especially the Assam Rifles.
âThe concerned government must immediately initiate large-scale search and rescue operations to locate the missing villagers abducted by the Kuki militants, recover looted civilian properties, and ensure the protection and safe rehabilitation of displaced families affected by the attacks,â ANSAM said in a statement.
(With inputs from Ukhrul Times)