Two more Kuki-Zo women killed, farmhouses torched in Manipur

GUWAHATI: Two Kuki-Zo women were shot dead and several farmhouses were set ablaze at Leisangphai village in Manipur’s Tamenglong district on Tuesday afternoon, triggering fresh concern over civilian safety in the violence-torn state.The deceased have been identified as 28-year-old nursing graduate Kimjalhai Singson and 76-year-old Phalneichong Sitlhou, both from the same village.Sitlhou, a widow, was hit while gathering firewood at her farm, while Singson, who had recently completed her nursing course, had returned home to help her parents with farming.

Preserve bodies in cold storage as part of protest against violence: Kuki-Zo body

The attack came two days after four Kuki-Zo civilians, including a married couple, were killed in separate incidents at Tollen village in Tamenglong district and Longpi village in Noney district on Sept 13.Condemning the killings, Saikul MLA Kimneo Hangshing of Kuki People’s Alliance described the incident as “cold-blooded and barbaric” and said the “alleged involvement of armed cadres of NSCN-IM and its proxy ZUF-K, if established through investigation, represents a grave and heinous assault on innocent civilians’ lives.”She said, “This latest bloodshed comes barely after the recent killings of innocent Kuki-Zo civilians in Tamenglong and adjoining areas, where civil society organisations have similarly alleged the involvement of NSCN-IM and ZUF-K cadres. The recurrence of such incidents raises an extremely serious question: How many more innocent lives must be lost before decisive preventive and security measures are taken?”The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has directed civil society organisations in all Kuki-Zo districts of Manipur not to bury any Kuki-Zo person allegedly killed by Naga armed groups, and instead, the mortal remains of such victims will be preserved at the nearest available cold-storage facility.

The council said the decision was a “deliberate and collective measure of protest and resistance” against what it described as continuing and unabated violence against Kuki-Zo civilians and the failure to ensure justice and accountability.The council added, “The Government of India and the Manipur Government must end this impunity. They must protect vulnerable civilians, bring the perpetrators to justice and take firm, lawful action against armed groups attacking civilians.

Condolences after every killing are not governance. Silence is not neutrality. Inaction is not peace. The govt must act now before more innocent lives are lost.”The state govt last week informed the assembly that at least 306 people have been killed while 49 remained missing till August since ethnic unrest erupted in the state on May 3, 2023.This year, the new conflict between Naga and Kuki-Zo that started in Feb has claimed at least 40 lives on both sides.