Fresh Clash In Manipur: Kuki Village Set Ablaze In Noney, Rahul Gandhi Targets Modi Government

Armed group allegedly attacked and set ablaze a Kuki village in Noney district of Manipur in the early hours of Thursday, triggering violence that erupted again in the state. The incident has further raised fears about the escalating conflict in the state while political leaders have also launched a barrage of accusations against each other for the worsening security situation.

Armed Attack Destroys Leikot Kuki Village

The Kuki Inpi, the top organisation of the Kuki population of Jiribam, Tamenglong and Noney districts, said that around 5am some members of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) attacked Leikot Kuki village in an "unprovoked" manner.

The organisation said the attackers set the village ablaze, leaving it totally destroyed. The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) is one of the oldest insurgent groups in the North-Eastern part of India.

The Kuki Inpi claimed that there had been an attempt to protect their houses by the village volunteers with licensed single barrel guns. But they were no match for the attackers who were said to have automatic rifles and mortar shells.

Conflict Appears To Spread Beyond Earlier Flashpoints

The newest onslaught occurred over 200 kilometres west of the India-Myanmar border where tensions had been high in recent days.

In the past, armed Naga groups were blamed for setting Phaimol Kuki village on fire, and some Kuki extremists were blamed for setting Huimin Thana and Kherongram villages burning in Kamjong district near the international border.

The conflict zone now seems to be spreading to Noney district as well after Thursday's violence. The situation started in Ukhrul district and has now spread across the adjoining districts of Kamjong, Kangpokpi and Noney and is creating fresh concerns on law and order situation in the area.

Rahul Gandhi Targets Centre Over Manipur Situation

Reacting to the incident, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called the Centre's failure to bring peace to the state as the continuing violence.

He said violence in Manipur had been taking place for years and the latest was an eye opener of the deteriorating situation.

"Even with two governments and President's rule, the conflict is only deepening. Thousands have lost their lives, countless families have been shattered-the unbearable agony Manipur is enduring is hard even to imagine," Gandhi said in a post on X.

He further alleged that the government's policies have fuelled divisions across communities.

"This is the result of the Modi government's divisive ideology, which divides people in the name of religion, caste, language, region, and identity. Today, not just Manipur but the entire country has given up hope of even two words of empathy from the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), let alone any action," the former Congress chief said.