Ukhrul, July 15, 2026: The Sikibung/Sharkaphung Village Authority has strongly condemned the combing operation conducted by a joint team of Manipur Police, Assam Rifles, Punjab Regiment, Madras Regiment and Bihar Regiment at Sikibung/Sharkaphung village on July 14, alleging that the operation led to the detention of four innocent civilians and created fear among residents of the surrounding Naga villages.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Village Authority alleged that the operation was carried out on the basis of inaccurate intelligence inputs and questioned the conduct of the security forces during a period of heightened tension in the Litan area. It claimed that the four detained individuals were innocent Civil Defence Guards and asserted that linking them to the alleged armed ambush at Lungshang Kong—located approximately 50–60 kilometres from Sikibung—was unjustified.
The Village Authority further alleged that security personnel ransacked residential houses, damaged private property, entered and searched the local church, vandalised the office door of Sikibung Primary School, and conducted searches within the educational institution. It described these actions as unwarranted and said they violated public trust and the sanctity of community institutions.
The statement also alleged that the operation had caused panic among villagers and urged law enforcement agencies to carefully verify intelligence inputs before launching security operations to avoid the wrongful targeting of innocent civilians.
The Sikibung/Sharkaphung Village Authority placed the following demands before the authorities:
- An immediate review of the circumstances surrounding the operation.
- Thorough verification of intelligence inputs before initiating future operations.
- Immediate and unconditional release of the four detained civilians.
- Accountability and safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future.
- Greater cooperation between security forces and the Village Authority in accordance with the law.
- A review of the continued presence of the Bihar Regiment at the S. Laho/Sikibung outpost, alleging that the regiment has failed to honour the understanding under which the land was originally provided by the village. The authority stated that the Indian Army should vacate the land if it remains unwilling to cooperate with the local community.
The statement was issued by the Sikibung/Sharkaphung Village Authority
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