Source Wung Media
Ukhrul, Manipur | EKHON: The unfortunate incident at Litan started as a skirmish between a few individuals belonging to the Litan Sareikhong and Sikibung village. The incident escalated immediately when no compromise or understanding could be reached between the two villagers the following day.
The villagers of Litan Sareikhong started resorting to arson, one of the worst and most backward traits of a civilisation, on the 8th of February, and while the villagers of Sikibung thought it was an inter-village conflict that could easily be settled, the Kuki village of Litan Sareikhong decided otherwise.
In no time, they scorched down 20 houses in the Litan Bazaar area while the helpless Tangkhul Naga villagers ran for their lives in the middle of the night. The biggest question about the intentions lies in their swift and coordinated attack and the speed at which Kuki militants arrived at the scene. Multiple videos circulated online show Kuki militants in bolero pick-ups and campers laughing and making fun as they moved into Litan Sareikhong and Shangkai as reinforcements. Eyewitnesses claim that the same vehicles that brought in the reinforcements evacuated the women and children away from their villages, laying bare their intentions to escalate the matter into a full-blown war. Was this event then, deliberately planned by them a long time back? A popular WhatsApp message dating back to June 12 2024 may hold the answer to this.
There is also the convoluted relationship between the Kuki community, militants, and the Indian armed forces. The Indian armed forces, who have been encamped in the Kuki villages ever since the communal violence broke out between the Kukis and Meiteis in 2023 have, for lack of better words, entered into what can be described as a fornicative relationship with them – literally and figuratively. Such is the reason why they just stood by and looked while Kuki militants, who are under SoO with the Government of India, fired rounds after rounds of automatic rifles in the direction of helpless villagers on the night of February 8. The Indian soldiers watched on while the Tangkhul Naga houses were torched down by the Kuki militants and villagers. Some allegations from the conflict area even go to the lengths that these jawans collaborated with Kuki militants and villagers in burning the houses at Sikibung, although this remains to be verified.
On the 10th of February, multiple videos of Kuki militants using automatic rifles firing at Tangkhul villagers emerged again. On the other hand, the Tangkhul Naga villagers took up kartoos (shotguns) and air guns, not for want of violence but to stand up for their rights and to protect their land.
Videos of Kuki militants openly addressing and challenging Tangkhul Nagas while holding assault rifles is doing the rounds on social media and yet the Government of Manipur and the Government of India watch on in silence, much like the armed forces stationed at Litan to maintain peace.
The Kukis have accumulated an arsenal of sophisticated weapons since the communal clash between the Meiteis and the Kukis broke out in 2023. And while these sophisticated weapons were used to terrorize helpless villagers in the conflict area, the Kukis also started fighting immediately on another front; social media. It is fair to say that of the many sophisticated weapons the Kukis have at their disposal, the weapon they have learned to wield best is the use of media. They have mastered the art of playing victim and fabricating stories out of thin air.
The Meiteis experienced it firsthand during their communal clash, and the same tactics are being deployed to portray the Tangkhul Nagas as the perpetrators. With so much talent in storytelling, one is left to question whether their talents would be better used in the film industry, where they could have achieved much success based on merit. Maybe if they’d gone down that road, they would have less appetite for violence and destruction and more appetite for art and building cultures. But the sad reality is that they continue to misuse the freedom of speech to churn out endless propaganda and lies that only fan the flames of communal violence further.
The order of events that have transpired since February 8 2026 brings about the question on if this has been a well calculated onslaught by the Kukis in collaboration with the Indian armed forces to quell the long-drawn Naga movement for sovereignty?
No other party stands to gain more than India who can simply sponsor the Kuki militants to fight against the Tangkhul Nagas who seek political sovereignty outside of the Indian constitution. Putting their eggs in this basket allows them to get rid of the long-drawn Naga movement for sovereignty and focus on the Kukis who are willing to accept any provisions under the Indian constitution, granted there is a separate administration from the Meiteis in the valley.
In the end, it is the innocent who will end up as collateral on both sides. The Tangkhul Nagas will still reason with peace and sensibility but when push comes to shove, will never stand down to defend our indigenous land and our rights.
