Phubala protests after farmer injured in Kuki attack
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 19 2025: A 55-year-old farmer was injured in an attack by suspected Kuki militants on the western side of Phubala village in Bishnupur district on Thursday, triggering protests by local residents demanding the arrest of the assailants.

The injured farmer has been identified as Ningthoujam Biren, son of late Tombi, of Phubala Awang Mamang Leikai.

He suffered a gunshot wound on the left forearm while working in his field falling under Moirang police station.

Local sources said multiple shot were fired by suspected militants around 3.20 pm from the direction of a nearby Kuki village.

Farmers working nearby rushed the injured Biren to Bishnupur district hospital for treatment.

Personnel of Bishnupur district police and other security forces rushed to the site and took precautionary measures to prevent escalation.

However, angered by the incident, large numbers of Phubala residents came out to the highway and blocked the Tiddim Road, demanding the arrest of the perpetrators and justice for the injured farmer.

A local Meira Paibi member said that they would not go to meet the Governor, DC, or the SP, and insisted that authorities come to the site instead.

The road blockade would continue until the assailants are arrested, she said.

Nameirakpam Ibomcha (57) of Phubala Makha Leikai, who witnessed the incident, said that he and Biren were resting and drinking water when armed Kuki militants opened fire from Singeirok stream area, located down the canal.

Biren was hit by the third shot, and they fled.

The Kuki militants continued firing but they escaped without further injuries.

He said that there is an SSB bunker about 100 metres from the firing position, but the personnel went inside the bunker upon hearing gunfire and did not respond.

Ibomcha further added that the SSB had earlier warned farmers against working in the area after noon due to the presence of armed militants but no actions were taken up to sanitise the area.

Another Meira Paibi member said that the incident was not isolated, as Kuki militants have repeatedly targeted farmers since the ethnic violence erupted on May 3,2023 .

Despite repeated appeals, the government has failed to provide adequate security for farmers working in vulnerable areas, she said.

The protestors accused the government of selectively disarming the valley while allowing militants in the hills to operate freely.

They condemned what they called a partisan policy and vowed to continue the protest until the government takes action against the assailants.

Moirang MLA Thongam Shanti visited the area and told reporters that nearby Kuki villages such as Kangathei, Chingphei and Khoirentak fall under the jurisdiction of Churachandpur district police, which allows armed Kuki groups to move freely.

He said that he would consult authorities to explore the possibility of bringing these areas under the jurisdiction of Bishnupur district police.

Earlier on November 9, 2024, Kuki militants launched attack at Saiton Wathalam under Phougakchao Ikhai police station in Bishnupur district, killing a young married woman working in her paddy field.

The victim, identified as Sapam Ongbi Sophiya (29) got hit on her chest and abdomen and died on the spot.

Addition to phubala

A villager who said he managed to run to safety narrated that he saw light smoke and muzzle flashes from the firearms used by "Kuki insurgents".

"They came down, crossed the high canal and opened fire.

I was sitting and preparing to pinch khaini when it happened.

I clearly saw smoke from the muzzles; tried to carry Biren [injured farmer] but had to lie flat.

I wouldn't have been alive if I was standing," the witness said in a video statement standing at the spot where the incident happened.

There are two canals in the Phubala-Naranseina area -low and high canals.

The distance from the low canal to the high canal is 800 metres, and from the high canal to the foothills is another 800 metres.

So the foothills are approximately 1.6 km from the low canal.

However, the distance from the low canal to some areas where the paddy fields cut into the foothills is nearly 2 km .

More villagers have alleged the "Kuki insurgents'" must have walked down till the area between the low and high canals before opening fire, as that would have put the low canal area within their gun range.

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