A woman was shot and more than 20 houses were set ablaze after suspected Myanmar-based Kuki militants launched coordinated attacks on three villages along the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur's Kamjong district early Thursday, according to police sources.
Details of the Attacks
The assaults targeted Choro, Wanglee, and Namlee villages. The injured woman, a Myanmar citizen sheltering at a refugee camp in Namlee, sustained a bullet wound to her thigh and was transferred to Imphal for medical treatment, a police officer confirmed.
Police reported that 20 houses were burned in Choro, while one house each was torched in Wanglee and Namlee, forcing residents to flee their homes.
Allegations by Tangkhul Naga Long
The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), an apex body of the Tangkhul Nagas, alleged that the attacks were carried out by the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) backed Peoples’ Defence Force (PDF), an armed group operating in Myanmar.
According to TNL, the Tangkhul Naga villages of Choro, Wanglee, and Namlee under Kamjong district were simultaneously overrun at around 3:30 am on Thursday. The settlements were bombed via drones, several houses were razed, villagers were looted, and they were fired upon by the foreign war party.
TNL also stated that a civilian was injured in Choro and alleged that villagers were rounded up and tortured. “The external aggression on Indian soil has created panic, fear, and insecurity among citizens as women, children, and other villagers were rendered homeless and are now taking shelter in a jungle, while many others remain missing,” the statement read.
Denial by KNA-B
The KNA-B has denied any involvement in the attacks. “KNA-B is not involved in any activities within Indian territory,” the group said in a statement. “Our mission is to restore democracy in Myanmar. We have consistently called for peace and dialogue between all parties in the region and urge the communities in Ukhrul and Kamjong to avoid escalating these incidents into an ethnic conflict.”
Political Reaction
Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh described the attack as “cross-border terrorism” and stated that indigenous communities are facing sustained external aggression from across the Indo-Myanmar border. He called for stronger border security measures and emphasized that central and state forces must remain prepared to protect civilians and ensure stability.
