NSCN-IM Blames Kuki Villagers for 'Provoking' Tangkhuls to Burn Down Kamjong Village

Hebron, March 19, 2020:

The Isak Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) has blamed the Kukis of Chassad village in Manipur's Kamjong district for 'provoking' the Tangkhuls of Sampui village to burn down an entire village.

The NSCN-IM released a statement after several Kuki Students' Organisations based in different parts of the country accused the former of a 'pre-planned' conspiracy to attack the Kukis of Chassad village.

"The burning down of Chassad village on 16th March, 2020 could have been avoided had the Kukis of Chassad village not taken law and order into their hands regarding the burning down of jhum cultivation fields blaming the Kamjong villagers. Had they exercised restraint and sanity, nothing could have provoke the Tangkhuls of Kamjong village," read the statement.

It added, "But, they chose to ignite the fire of communal inferno by resorting to go for offensive against the Tangkhul community of Sampui and Kamjong villages by organizing road block between Kamjong and Ukhrul and in the process burned down one shaktiman truck and newly constructed petrol pump owned by Tangkhuls. Going further, the Chassad village authority sounded alarm bell calling their people to be prepared for offensive against the Tangkhul community of Kamjong."

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It needs mention here that situation remained tense in Kamjong district following a clash between Chassad (Kuki) and Sampui villages after more than 100 houses belonging to the former village were burnt down. More than ten vehicles were also charred to ashes.

Section 144 was imposed following the clash in Kamjong and the internet services were also suspended for three days.

The NSCN accused the Kukis residing in Chassad of starting the clash by shouting abusive and provocative slogans against the Tangkhuls. According to the statement, the violent clash was a result of Kukis pelting stones at Tangkhuls. "The Chassad villagers invited retaliation from the Tangkhul community of Kamjong," added NSCN.

The statement of NSCN-IM came after Kukis residing outside condemned the Kamjong violence and termed it as as a “pre-planned crime” orchestrated by the Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM.

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"Sampui village authority had time and again warned Chassad village authority not to provoke them by claiming the land that never belongs to them but to accept the historical reality that the Kukis were allowed to set up their settlement on humanitarian ground. But, much to the indignation of Sampui village authority, the Chassad village chief published a statement in the local papers that the stretch of land spanning from Khoika village to Chassad village has been under the custodianship of the Chassad village since time immemorial," stated NSCN-IM.

The statement called the Kukis settled in Khoika and Chassad villages as refugees. "...with due permission from Sampui village since 1930-1931, the villagers have no issue with land owner as they faithfully has been paying Lousan tax to the Sampui Headman for their jhum cultivation. There is documentary records issued in 1958 by AH Scott, the then SDO, Ukhrul, to the effect that Khoika village pay a sum of Rs. 14/- as Lousan tax to the land owner Aprang, then Sampui Headman, said NSCN-IM.

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They called the present dwellers of Chassad village "nomadic tribes from neighboring Myanmar/Burma that had migrated to the ancestral lands of the Tangkhuls."

"The hue and cry raised by Kuki organizations from different places condemning the Tangkhuls or even dragging NSCN into the issue is unfounded. The community who first ignited the communal fire should be condemned in the strongest term. The truth cannot be hidden. Let us avoid being carried away by one sided observation but be rationale," concluded NSCN-IM.

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