5 NVGs hurt in pre-dawn attack by Kukis
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul/Imphal, May 04 2026: At least five Naga Village Guards (NVG) sustained bullet injuries in a pre-dawn attack carried out by Kuki militants in the forested hill range of Haorei and Hamsan adjoining Ringui village, Ukhrul district.

One of the Kuki assailants was also injured in the retaliatory firing that followed.

Sources said that Kuki militants attacked NVGs using sophisticated weapons from two Kuki villages - Mullam and Songphel at around 4.30 am today.

Tangkhul village guards were patrolling around their village when they came under a sudden and fierce attack from Kuki militants.

5 NVGs hurt in pre-dawn attack by Kukis

The Tangkhul village guards retaliated by opening fire toward the Kuki militants who attempted to advance toward Ringui village.

At least five Tangkhul Naga village guards sustained bullet injuries in the attack and they were evacuated to Ukhrul district hospital before two of them whose injuries were critical were referred to Imphal.

Intermittent firing between the two sides went on till 1 pm .

Casualties on the side of Kuki militants could not be ascertained but it was highly suspected that there might be some casualties on the side of Kuki militants, said the sources.

Ringui village is located about 40 Kms away from Ukhrul town.

Meanwhile, the Ringui Village Protection Committee (RVPC) has strongly condemned the repeated and unprovoked attacks at Ringui village by Kuki terrorists under Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement.

According to a press release issued by the RVPC, a renewed heavy firing occurred today at Haorei and Hamsan hill range at around 4:40 am, where Kuki terrorists attacked members of the Naga Village Guard (NVG) during their routine monitoring duties.

A number of guards sustained bullet injuries in the attack which lasted for several hours.

On the other hand, the Ringui village authority has expressed deep concern over reports of Kuki terrorists armed with sophisticated weapons being stationed at multiple bunkers in and around Ringui Haorei hills and Hamsan, from where repeated assaults are being carried out on the innocent villagers.

These repeated barbaric and terrorising acts are utterly intolerable and constitute a grave violation of the dignity, right to life and rightful ownership of the people of Ringui village, it said.

"We unequivocally denounce these atrocities carried out on our land and our people.

These repeated acts of aggression will not be taken lightly.

Any further attempts to harm our innocent civilians and encroach upon our land will invite severe and uncompromising consequences", the village authority warned.

The village authority has also urged the concerned authorities to immediately investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice by initiating necessary criminal proceedings to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

On the other hand, the Kuki CSOs Working Committee, Ukhrul alleged that armed cadres of NSCN Eastern Flank attempted a forceful intrusion into Kuki villages at around 3 am on May 4 through the Tongou pocket of the Kampa range.

According to the committee, the attackers opened "indiscriminate fire", triggering a retaliatory response from Kuki village volunteers positioned along the Uiliphai-Bollen ridge of Mt Kampa.

The exchange reportedly left one volunteer critically injured.

Calling for immediate action, the committee has urged authorities to launch a comprehensive combing operation across the Tongou-Ringui belt to "neutralise hostile elements" and prevent further incursions into forest and farming areas.