Kuki militants fire at Naga farmers

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 15: The Rongmei Chiefs/Chairmen Association, Zaengphay (Foothills) of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi District (RCCAZ-CK) has vehemently condemned the firing by armed Kukis at innocent farmers of Sadu Khoiroi/Raengdailuang and Laimanai Kabui/Thingpui villages at around 2 pm of November 13.
According to a press release issued by the association, a group of around 20 Kukis fully armed and in combat uniform came down to the Naga villages and started firing indiscriminately at the farmers who were then harvesting their crops.
A stray bullet even hit the house of one of the villagers, it said.
It also appealed to all concerned to refrain from such activities in Naga inhabited areas in the future failing which ‘we may be forced to take up necessary steps to ensure the safety of our people.’
Meanwhile, paddy stacks of over one sangam piled up for threshing were found burnt at Pukhao Loukol of Pukhao Naharup, Imphal East district last night.
The victim farmer has been identified as one Laisom Shamungou (70) of Pukhao Khabam Awang Leikai.
As Shamungou went to his paddy fields this morning to harvest the crop using machinery, he found all the paddy stacks burnt.
Although the identities of the miscreants is not known yet, the paddy fields are located next to Kuki village known as Changsang.
As such, security forces have been guarding farmers working at the paddy fields  till 4 pm every day.