Manipur Naga village guard injured in reported attack near India-Myanmar border

New Delhi: A Naga Village Guard-Eastern Command (NVG-EC) civil defence volunteer sustained serious bullet injuries while patrolling near Huimin Thana in Manipur’s Kamjong district on Thursday, the organization said. Chassad police confirmed that an incident had occurred, but the circumstances, including the identity of those involved, have not been independently verified.

In a statement issued on Friday, the NVG-EC alleged that members of the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) and Village Volunteers of Eastern Zone (VVEZ) attacked its patrol at about 4.30pm. It said its members were patrolling Tangkhul Naga villages near the India-Myanmar border when firing began.

The group said it returned fire and forced the attackers back during an exchange that lasted about an hour. Its statement added, “The firing encounter lasted for about an hour and casualties have been reported on their side.”

Those alleged casualties have not been independently established, and no official findings identifying the attackers have been released.

Huimin Thana lies near India-Myanmar border pillar 102 in Kamjong’s Chassad subdivision, about 53km south of the district headquarters. Residents helped rescue the injured volunteer and take him to Kamjong district hospital, where he received treatment, according to the NVG-EC. No subsequent medical update was available.

The NVG-EC also alleged that Tangkhul Naga villages near the border had faced repeated attacks since May 7, naming Z. Choro, Wanglee and Namlee among the affected settlements. It said villages in the area were deserted following violence on July 1 and accused KNA-B and VVEZ members of killing four villagers at Pilong on September 24 and two civilians at Ningchou on October 10. These allegations and casualty figures have not been independently verified.

The organization accused the authorities of repeatedly failing to prevent attacks on border villages and appealed to Naga youth to remain united. No independent or official assessment substantiating the organization’s allegations was available.

Another civilian killing amid wider unrest

The reported patrol attack comes amid a series of killings and arson incidents in Manipur’s hill districts. In another attack reported on Thursday in Kamjong, Kuki-Zo woman Hatneikim Haokip was killed while travelling to buy essential supplies between Molnoi and Phaikoh. Her husband sustained bullet injuries, while another couple remained missing as of Thursday night, according to The Indian Express.

Manipur’s deputy chief minister, Nemcha Kipgen, condemned the killing and urged an investigation and restraint.

“Violence against innocent civilians achieves nothing and harms everyone,” she said.
No connection between the two reported Thursday incidents has been independently established.

Earlier, at least nine people were killed and about 14 houses burnt during violence across Kamjong, Ukhrul and Kangpokpi on October 9 and 10. Restrictions were imposed near Chassad police station following the unrest, as RNA Media reported earlier.