Imphal: The Joint Tribes Council (JTC) of Manipur has condemned the alleged assault on a Naga police officer and the vandalism of his official vehicle by a group of Kuki individuals at Motbung in Kangpokpi district.

In a press statement issued on November 3, the council said the incident took place on October 30 when the officer, identified as Machi Police Station Officer-in-Charge TP Kiukamlung, was travelling in uniform from Senapati to Imphal.

According to the JTC, a group intercepted the officer, separated him from his escort personnel and allegedly intimidated the escort party. The group also damaged the government-allotted vehicle and assaulted the officer, who subsequently required medical treatment at Shija Hospital.

Describing the incident as a serious attack on law enforcement authority and the police institution, the council called on the state and central governments to initiate an immediate and impartial investigation and ensure that those responsible are prosecuted.

The JTC said the incident reflected a concerning deterioration in the law-and-order situation, which it linked to a series of recent violent incidents, abductions and killings involving Naga and Meitei civilians across the region.

The council also urged the government to ensure the safety of vulnerable transit routes and guarantee the free movement of people along public roads and national highways without interference from armed groups.

Emphasising the need for peaceful coexistence, the JTC said harmony could not be sustained if communities were expected to tolerate intimidation unilaterally. It asserted that the Naga people would not accept displacement or intimidation in their ancestral territories.

The council also expressed concern over what it described as the continued use of derogatory language against the Naga community. It specifically referred to a recent statement allegedly made by MLA Kimneo Haokip Hangshing.

The JTC concluded by reminding constitutional office-holders of their responsibility to uphold public dignity, mutual respect and the rule of law.