More rip apart Kuki group for assault
Source: The Sangai Express / NNN

Imphal, September 08 2023: The Zeliangrong Baudi and Liangmai Senior Citizens' Forum have condemned in the strongest term the act of assaulting a Liangmai Naga civilian by cadres of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) a few days back.

Physical assault meted out to Zuina Hotngambou of Lenglong village, Tamei sub-division on September 5 by KRA cadres at Chalwa village, IT Road for his failure to pay a sum of only Rs 300 is a matter of shame for the militant group which is under SoO with the Government of India, said a press release issued by the Zeliangrong Baudi.

It said that there have been instances of similar acts perpetrated upon innocent public in the past by cadres of different UG groups operating on the stretch of Imphal-Tamenglong (IT) Road.

KRA in particular and Kuki people in general should realise their location and position considering the critical situation for their own good only, it said.

The outcome and consequences of frequent provoking to every community at this critical juncture may not be favourable to the Kuki people as a whole, the Zeliangrong Baudi said.

It also urged the Government of India to set up an army post on IT Road.

The Liangmai Senior Citizens' Forum, North East India (LSCF-NEI), in a statement issued by its chairman Ch.

Dithinbou, said today that the September 5 incident has a potential to trigger a flare-up.

While strongly condemning the incident, the forum said that Kukis have been harassing Naga commuters along the IT Road for a long time now.

Z.Hotngambou of Rianglong (Lenglong) village, Tamei sub-division, Tamenglong district, was assaulted on September 5 by the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) cadres, which is under Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government, at Chalwa along IT Road under Kangpokpi district.

Z Hotngambou is ex-chairman of Lenglong village, a founding member and advisor of Zuinamai Foundation-North East India, and a member of LSCF-NEI.

According to LSCF-NEI, Z Hotngambou had to undergo medical treatments because of the beating by the Kuki militants.

The forum also alleged that the Kuki militants started beating Hotngambou the moment he mentioned the names of Naga Hoho, UNC, LNC and others during the course of interrogation by the Kuki militants.

"Such an act of the Kuki militants is akin to challenging the Naga civil society organizations and the Nagas as a whole," the Liangmai elders' body also said.

The Liangmai Senior Citizens' Forum then recalled how the 1990's violence between the Nagas and the Kukis cropped up.

The forum further recalled that incident where the then chairman of Chaton village who also happened to be secretary of Zeliangrong Union of Tamei Zone, Champonbou was thrashed by the Kukis at Chalwa, IT Road, many years ago.

The Liangmai forum then asked, "What actually the Kukis are upto by repeatedly meting out such acts to the Nagas?" .

The Liangmai body then drew the attention of all concerned people and authorities to look into the issue and address the situation at the earliest.

Comment