Imphal: The Kuki Zo Council has called on the state and central governments to take immediate action to protect civilians, punish those responsible for the violence and provide financial assistance to victims following a series of fatal attacks and incidents of arson.
In an official statement, the council said the repeated killings and destruction of property appeared to be part of a wider effort to drive the Kuki-Zo community from its ancestral lands.
The council also questioned the activities of NSCN-IM cadres in Kamjong, Ukhrul and Chandel districts.
It said the group’s ceasefire agreement with the Centre was understood to cover only Nagaland and asked the Government of India to clarify the agreement’s geographical scope and stop the ongoing violence.
The situation in Kamjong district, particularly around Chassad village, has worsened, according to the council. It reported that four Kuki-Zo civilians had been killed within a week and said the deaths showed a failure by the government to protect civilians.
The council called for an impartial investigation into the incidents, citing the alleged involvement of NSCN-IM factions.
The council also said an economic embargo was preventing Kuki-Zo residents from buying essential goods. It demanded unrestricted access to basic supplies and the immediate deployment of central security forces along the route between the local police station and Chassad village to protect residents.
The statement listed several violent incidents reported in October. It said an Indian Reserve Battalion personnel allegedly shot dead a civilian, followed by the death of another civilian the next day. Days later, a woman was killed and her husband critically injured while they were travelling to Phaikoh to buy supplies.
In another incident near Chassad Police Station, the council said Kuki-Zo men repairing electrical infrastructure came under fire from a bunker inside the station premises. One person was killed and four others were injured.
The firing was followed by further attacks that destroyed more than 30 houses and displaced residents, according to the council.
The council said the Kuki-Zo people are Indian citizens and are entitled to equal protection under the Constitution. It urged the authorities to act urgently to prevent further killings, ensure public safety and protect the dignity of civilians.