UKHRUL/KAMJONG, October 21, 2026: The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has alleged that suspected Kuki militants set fire to Patleijang hamlet near Yaolen village in Ukhrul district and Khoikai village in Kamjong district on October 20 and 21, respectively, warning Tangkhul Naga communities to remain vigilant against possible attacks.
In a press communiqué issued on Wednesday, the TNL said smoke was reportedly seen rising from the vicinity of Patleijang, near Litan Police Station, and the abandoned Khoikai village, under Chassad Police Station, in the early hours of Tuesday and Wednesday. The organisation attributed these accounts to sources in neighbouring Tangkhul Naga villages.
The TNL alleged that the incidents could be part of a strategy to shift blame and create a pretext for further attacks against Tangkhul Naga settlements. However, the communiqué did not provide independent evidence establishing who was responsible for the fires.
Drawing parallels with earlier incidents, the TNL referred to the burning of Lanchah and Phaimol in April and July 2026, respectively, alleging that those incidents were followed by attacks on Tangkhul Naga villages and settlements.
According to the communiqué, the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) and Village Volunteers of Eastern Zone (VVEZ) launched attacks on Z. Choro, Wanglee and Namlee, Tangkhul Naga villages along the Indo-Myanmar border, on May 7, 2026, following the reported burning of Lanchah. The organisation also claimed that Huimin Thana and Khrongram, a hamlet of Nampisha village, came under heavy attack following the Phaimol incident.
The TNL further stated that Tangkhul Naga civil society organisations had facilitated the safe passage of the remaining 40 inhabitants of Khoikai village on April 6, 2026, indicating that the settlement had been abandoned by the time of the latest reported incident.
Accusing the Kuki community of engaging in what it described as a pattern of deception and blame-shifting since the outbreak of violence in the hills of Manipur on February 7, 2026, the TNL condemned the latest incidents and cautioned that vulnerable Tangkhul Naga areas could face renewed violence.
The organisation urged the Tangkhul Naga community to remain alert, particularly in vulnerable areas, warning that further attacks could occur at any time. It described the fires as potentially orchestrated acts of arson and called for vigilance amid continuing tensions.
The allegations and account of the incidents contained in the TNL communiqué have not been independently verified. The communiqué did not mention any official confirmation of the cause of the fires or identify any findings from a police investigation.
The statement was issued by the Media Cell of the Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long.
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