The Meitei Alliance has strongly condemned the killing of three Manipuri civilians and the injuring of several others near Nongshum in the Khamenlok area of Kangpokpi district.

In an official press statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation—which operates offices in both India and the United Kingdom—expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved families following the attack that took place on October 19, 2026. According to the statement, the victims were ordinary villagers who had gone to collect firewood for their livelihood when they were reportedly attacked by armed Kuki militants.

Allegations of Proxy Militancy and Government Failure

The Meitei Alliance stated that the assault was reportedly carried out by the KNF-N, a militant outfit outside the Suspension of Operations (SoO) framework. However, the organisation alleged that the group operates as a proxy for Kuki militant groups currently bound by SoO agreements.

Characterising the incident as part of a broader pattern of escalating violence across the hills of Manipur, the Alliance sharply criticised both the State and Central Governments for failing to confront armed militancy decisively.

“Instead of recognising the alleged terrorist activities of SoO groups and their proxies, disarming them and enforcing the writ of the State, the governments have sought to buy peace through appeasement while projecting an illusion of normalcy,” the statement read, adding that innocent civilians who believed peace had returned are now paying with their lives.

Key Demands for Security and Disarmament

Rejecting the notion that difficult hill terrain can serve as an excuse for failing to protect civilians, the Meitei Alliance asserted that genuine peace cannot be manufactured through political assurances while militants continue to operate with impunity.

Rather than launching short-lived, localised security operations merely to pacify public anger in the aftermath of killings, the organisation urged the State to carry out comprehensive, state-wide disarmament and impartial law enforcement. Specifically, the Alliance put forward three core demands:

• The immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF).
• The complete disarmament of all armed militant groups, including their alleged proxies.
• The strict prosecution of the perpetrators responsible for the Khamenlok killings.

Call for Unity Amidst Crisis

Beyond security measures, the Meitei Alliance issued a broader appeal to the people of Manipur—particularly the youth, political parties, civil society organisations, intellectuals, and public influencers—to look beyond partisan divisions and electoral rivalries.

Warning against the distractions of social media hostility and personal political attacks, the group emphasised that collective focus must be redirected toward ending violence, rehabilitating displaced families, securing borders, and restoring economic stability.

“Manipur’s collective future must not be sacrificed for partisan interests, individual loyalties or electoral gains,” the statement concluded, reiterating that authorities must disarm militants, enforce the law, and protect innocent lives rather than pretending peace has returned.

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