A Naga woman was allegedly assaulted by Kuki miscreants in Leimakhong, Manipur, sparking calls for intervention from civil organizations and authorities.
OHIMA: A Naga woman was reportedly attacked by Kuki miscreants on Tuesday in Konsakhul K Lungwiram, a Zeliangrong Naga village located 2 km from the Leimakhong army cantonment in Saitu Constituency, Kangpokpi district.
The incident allegedly occurred while a resident of K Lungwiram, a village primarily inhabited by the Liangmai Naga, was leveling a plot of land with an excavator. The woman was reportedly assaulted and manhandled by a group of Kuki individuals.
A video circulating on social media reportedly shows Kuki individuals verbally attacking the Naga villagers and threatening the person recording the incident. The footage also shows the miscreants threatening to set fire to the JCB excavator and harm the Naga villagers in broad daylight. According to the victim, a mob of about 20 Kuki miscreants arrived and interrupted her work. They allegedly pushed her to the ground, assaulted her, and destroyed her mobile phone.
The victim’s brother corroborated her account, confirming that the mob attacked his sister, stopped the land leveling, and verbally abused them with profanities. The victim and the villagers have called on Naga civil organizations and authorities to intervene and address the situation.
It is significant to note that, amidst the ongoing violence in Manipur that has lasted over 19 months, the Liangmai Nagas of the Leimakhong areas have been subjected to numerous attacks and intimidation by the Kuki-Zo communities. This includes involvement from cadres of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), who were previously under Suspension of Operation agreements with both the Government of India and the Government of Manipur.
Among several incidents in the recent past, in June 2023, a house belonging to a Liangmai Naga in Leimakhong was allegedly set on fire by Kukis. Later that year, a Liangmai Naga man was reportedly attacked by members of the same tribal community.
The Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi, Manipur (LNKR-M), the Liangmai Pui Naga Ruangdi (LPNR) or Liangmai Women’s Union, and the Liangmai Naga Ruangdi (LNR), the apex organization of the Liangmai Nagas of Nagaland and Manipur, have strongly condemned these incidents.
