‘Myanmar’ militants attack Tangkhul Naga villages

According to Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the situation developing along the Indo-Myanmar border is alarmingly grave and getting critical with every passing day after the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) backed by Myanmar Peoples’ Defence Force (PDF), an armed group operating in Myanmar, launched coordinated attacks on three Tangkhul Naga villages in “Indian territory”.

The Tangkhul Naga villages, namely Choro, Wanglee and Namlee under the jurisdiction of Kamjong district of Manipur, were simultaneously raided and over-ran at about 3:30 am on Thursday. “The dvilian settlements were also heavily bombed with drones, rocket launchers and lathode guns, destroying several houses while some were razed to the ground. Moreover, the villagers were looted and fired upon by the Myanmar-based Kuki militants”, said the Tangkhul body.

In Choro village under Kamjong sub-division, more than 15 houses were burnt down and a civilian was injured by gunshot, said the TNL. “Innocent villagers were also rounded up and tortured by the barbaric Kuki narco-terrorists.”, the Tangkhul body further alleged The unfortunate incidents occurred just about 200 metres from the 11 Assam Rifles company stationed between Choro and Aloyo, it added. In Namlee, a woman was shot at and sustained a bullet injury on her left thigh and a house was also set on fire, said the TNL.

The TNL then said the “external aggression on the Indian soil” has created panic, fear and insecurity among the Indian citizens as women, children and other villagers were rendered homeless and are now taking shelter in a jungle, while many others still remain missing.

“The Tangkhul Naga community expresses their vehement condemnation and immeasurable shock over today’s armed foreign aggression initiated by the combined forces of KNA-B and PDF group. Since the past few years, these border villagers have been providing food and shelter to hundreds of civilians who sought refuge following a violent resistance movement against the Junta regime in Myanmar,” it added.

Incidentally, the cross-border attack came just a day after a troop of Assam Rifles (ARS) visited these border villages- raising challenging questions on the nexus between the KNA-B and the Indian para-military force, said the TNL. It further said there is a sufficient doubt that the “Indian security forces cleared the decks for aggression by sharing intel to the Myanmar-based narco-terrorists”. In times when the border villages faced life-challenging threats, the ARs had also reportedly arrested a member of Naga Village Guard (NVG) stationed at Choro village instead of giving protection and security cover to the “Indian victim villagers”, the TNL further said.

The public is also shocked beyond words to witness the ARs at Choro-Aloyo and Bundung stationed in the vicinity remain mere spectators when the entire event took place in their jurisdiction, it further said, adding, “It is indicative of the fact that the border guards have completely failed to keep the people and the border safe from external aggression”.

The TNL then “urgently” appealed to the central government to declare their stand and initiate actions on this very matter of utmost importance that challenges the “sovereignty of a nation”. The safety and security of the villagers residing along the Indo-Myanmar border has been blatantly compromised and the Centre must take immediate action and own responsibility for the strategic security failure, the Tangkhul body also said, adding, “The nation with nearly a 1.5 billion strong population has been openly shamed in the eyes of the world”.