Kuki militants stop bus, snatch mobile phones
NSCN (IM) warns, Naga bodies condemn
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, September 09 2025: Days after the Government of India signed an agreement with the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) to allow "free movement" ahead of the Prime Minister's highly anticipated visit to Manipur, Kuki militants stopped and boarded an Imphal-bound bus at Molnom yesterday and confiscated mobile phones of passengers.

The armed Kuki militants opened fire in the air, searched the vehicle and went through the contents of the personal mobile phones of the passengers, to check if there were any photographs or video recordings of their camp or the area.

Even though the mobile phones were later returned to the owners, the incident caused panic among the passengers.

Amid the KZC's strong assertion to maintain "buffer zones" between Kuki and Meitei areas after the signing of the agreement to allow free movement, the Molnom bus incident created apprehension among the people if the militants were checking for Meitei passengers.

With a warning of befitting response, the Wung Tangkhul Region, Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) has condemned the incident in the strongest terms and called it a "provocative" action.

The bus was travelling from Sanakeithel to Imphal when it was stopped by the armed Kuki militants at Molnom village area in the morning hours yesterday.

The Kuki militants entered the bus after intercepting it at Molnom village and checked the mobile phones of the passengers.

It was a "provocative action" that created fear psychosis among the innocent travellers in the Naga area, said the WTR-GPRN in a statement.

The Wung Tangkhul Region of GPRN/ NSCN condemns the "uncultured Kuki militants" in the strongest terms.

They are playing with the nerves of the NSCN .

Any such undesirable act to spread fear and insecurity among commuters in Naga areas shall be responded to in a befitting manner, it said.

Such incidents in the future will not go unanswered.

The NSCN will remain vigilant to check the activities of the Kuki militants, it added.

The Sagolmang Area Naga Students' Association (SANSA) too condemned the incident and called it "cowardly, barbaric and unlawful" .

The armed Kuki militants intercepted the passenger bus, forcibly seized passengers' mobile phones, and searched them to verify whether any video recordings of their militant camp or the area had been taken.

The militants further resorted to blank firing, creating panic and grave insecurity among innocent civilians, said SANSA in a statement.

"Such barbaric, cowardly, and unlawful acts against defenseless passengers are utterly intolerable and deserve the strongest condemnation.

The lives, rights, and safety of the people must never be subjected to such intimidation and violence," it said.

It is the bounden duty of the authorities of the Government to ensure the safety of all commuters and uphold the rule of law without compromise, it said, demanding stringent measures to bring the perpetrators to justice.

"...if such heinous incidents are allowed to persist unchecked, SANSA will not remain a silent spectator but will be compelled to pursue stronger courses of action in defense of the security and dignity of our people," it added.

The Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO) has also condemned the incident and termed it a "dastardly act" .

It also accused the Kuki militants of constantly provoking the Naga people with an intention to open another front of conflict against the Nagas in many areas while prolonging the current conflict.

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