Kuki militants from Myanmar attack border villages on Indian soil, torch houses, abduct citizens
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul/Imphal, May 07 2026: In a daring offensive, militants belonging to the Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) and PDF infiltrated into the Indian territory at the frontier villages of Kamjong district, Manipur, set several villages on fire and abducted some Indian citizens.

Using sophisticated firearms and explosives, a combined force of KNA-B and PDF simultaneously attacked three Tangkhul villages - Choro, Wanglee and Namlee in the wee hours at around 4 on Thursday.

The coordinated attack injured two persons, one NVG and a Vaiphei woman taking refuge in Namlee village camp.

The foreign militants torched 15 houses at Chore, two shops at Wanglee and another shop at Namlee.

Kuki militants from Myanmar attack border villages on Indian soil, torch houses, abduct citizens

According to locals, the Myanmar based militants intruded into India through the porous border from three different locations and carried out the coordinated attack.

With many villagers (Indian citizens) reported missing till the time of filing this report, it is suspected that they might have been abducted by the Myanmar-based militants.

One of the missing persons has been identified as Zingran Ningshen (35) of Wanglee village.

Saying that troops of Assam Rifles visited the three villages last night before KNA-B and PDF launched the coordinated attack early this morning, many of the local people said that they have lost all faith in the Assam Rifles and the conduct of the paramilitary force is doubtful.

The villagers have urged the Government to station adequate strength of State forces in the frontier villages.

Notably, the three border villages (Chore, Wanglee and Namlee) are currently hosting thousands of Myanmar refugees in their village camps.

Even though the Tangkhul community has been providing humanitarian aid to the Myanmarese refugees by providing shelter and other essential items for several years after the outbreak of a civil war in Myanmar, the Kuki militants have shown neither gratitude nor respect to the local people.

On the contrary, Kuki militants have been attacking the local villagers every now and then, said the sources.

Visuals circulating from the ground show thick plumes of smoke rising from hill slopes burning of houses while other video clips show frightened civilians, including women and children, taking shelter in forested areas as gunfire and explosions echoed across the hills.

The villages which came under attack this morning are located in between the international border pillars 89 and 95 under Kasom block of Kamjong district.

The incident has triggered outrage and panic among locals, with many questioning the delayed response of Indian security forces.

Meanwhile, Phungyar AC MLA Leishiyo Keishing has asserted that the coordinated attack carried out by KNA-B and PDF was a clear case of external aggression.

He said that both the Government of India and the State Government ought not to remain silent to this external aggression.

Speaking to media persons at his official quarters at Lamphelpat this afternoon, Leishiyo Keishing said that five/six persons were injured in the attack even though there was no fatality.

The MLA said that one Zingran Ningshen of Wanglee was captured and taken away by the combined force of KNA-B and PDF .

Some villagers of Choro were also taken captive before they were set free on the way after confiscating their mobile phones and all the money, he said.

Saying that around 300 villages have fled 4/5 Kms away from their villages, the MLA asked who will protect these displaced villagers.

As the attack came hours after AR troops visited the villages, the villagers have decided to prohibit AR troops from entering the villages, Leishiyo Keishing said.

He urged the State Government to send adequate strength of State forces to the border villages at the earliest.

Saying that the villagers are extremely resentful of the Assam Rifles, the MLA said that the Government ought to come out with a clarification on the matter.

Pointing out that many Kukis (Vaipheis) were also taking shelter at the relief camps opened at the border villages and most of the injured victims were Vaiphei people, the MLA asserted that the attack was not a communal clash but external aggression.

Leishiyo Keishing said that protecting Imphal city, district headquarters or town areas cannot be equated to safeguarding the borders of Manipur.

He said that BSF troops stationed at Ashang Khullen saw the foreign militants attacking the villages but they did nothing.

"Following reports from village chiefs that they were apprehensive of attacks from militants based in Myanmar and their appeal to station State forces in the border region, I wrote a DO letter on April 24 requesting the Chief Minister to deploy State forces in the area", Leishiyo Keishing said.

The Chief Minister forwarded the same letter to the DGP but there has been no response till date, he said.

"Our forefathers told us that the boundary of Manipur extended up to Chindwin River and we were told that our forefathers went fishing in Chindwin River", he said.

Leishiyo Keishing said that the neighbouring country has been encroaching and occupying the parts of Manipur's territory because Assam Rifles.

BSF shifted the State's boundary from inaccessible areas to places where there are roads and villages.

Border fence will not be able to prevent incursion from across the border unless there are adequate security forces who are committed to protect the State's boundary, he said.