The Assam Rifles on Saturday rescued two Tangkul Naga villagers, including a woman who was kidnapped by the faction of Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) and Village Volunteers Eastern Zone (VVEZ) from Manipur’s Zi Churu village in Kamjong district bordering Myanmar.
“The woman was abducted by KNA (B) and Village Volunteers Eastern Zone (VVEZ) of Namli. The release of the woman south of Z Choro village near the incident area was under the surveillance of Assam Rifles, intelligence and other agencies,” said a statement issued by the Inspector General of Police Headquarters Assam Rifles (South).
Officials said gunmen kidnapped two villagers after attacking four villages in Kamjong district on Thursday.
The Naga Tangkul Azi Katamnao Long Students Union (Tangkul Students Union) claimed in a statement that about 100 ANA-B fighters crossed the international border from the Myanmar side and targeted four Tangkul Naga villages including Namli, Wangli, Ashang Khulin (Kaka), and Aloyu (Churu).
“The woman’s husband, the village head and the CSO were also transferred to Homini Thana, near Vaikoh and close to the handover site, as soon as the special forces secured their release. After their release, the family and the CSO were transported to the unit headquarters in Shasad for official handover and documentation. The family, the village head and the CSO then moved to their village, Khangbat Khen. In the entire process, all details were coordinated at meticulous levels including medical examinations and psychological assistance. The statement said. Handle the village leader and local villagers appropriately by the force.
Assam Rifles explained that in the early hours of May 7, disturbances were reported near Z Choro and off Namlee along the Indo-Myanmar border.
Read also:Manipur: 6 people were injured in multiple attacks in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts
The Assamese forces brought the situation under control and rescued 15 more villagers. State Home Minister K Govindas, along with Naga People’s Front (NPF) legislator Lishu Kishing, visited three villages affected by the incident on Saturday. The visit revealed that most of the houses in the Zed Shoro area had burned and turned to ashes, with the exception of churches.
“The incident of armed attack and arson allegedly carried out by a Myanmar-based armed group may have occurred due to security lapses,” Govindas said.
However, the minister challenged the statement made by the NPF legislator regarding the involvement of the two Myanmar-based armed groups, KNA-B and PDF. “Foreign aggression was not mentioned in the report submitted to the government,” Govindas said.
Regarding villagers’ demands to replace the Assam Rifles with other government security forces, Govindas said the state still needs about 7,000 additional personnel. But he confirmed that the government would consider deploying state security forces in the region by replacing the central security forces.
The state home minister also interacted with refugees from Myanmar who took refuge in Namle village.
According to the Kamjong District Administration Register as of May 7, 2024, more than 1,500 Myanmar refugees live in Churu, Namely and Wangli villages.
In a statement, the VVEZ movement claimed responsibility for the attack that occurred in the Kamjong area.
She said the Kamjong incident was a retaliation attack for the burning of Lancha Kuki village in the same district on May 2.
She also explained that the response was due to the ongoing attacks allegedly carried out by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), especially the Eastern Wing faction (Naga armed group) against the Kuki community in Ukhrul and Kamjung district of Manipur.
The unrest in Manipur has claimed at least 260 lives and displaced about 60,000 people since May 2023. It first began among the Meitei and Kuki communities and has since included almost all groups.
