Countering the statements issued by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) on Tuesday accused the latter of misrepresenting the January 8 gunfire incident and attempting to project a false narrative of intimidation against “innocent villagers.”
In a press communiqué issued by its Ministry of Information and Publicity, ZUF stated that CoTU’s claims were misleading and did not reflect the actual situation on the ground. The Front asserted that credible and verified inputs point to the systematic construction of fortified bunkers by Kuki underground outfits at village entry points, within residential courtyards, and in surrounding areas.
ZUF maintained that the deliberate militarisation of these locations contradicts efforts to portray them as purely civilian or non-combatant zones, and said such developments have heightened security concerns in the area following the gunfire incident.
The Front further expressed grave concern over the alleged actions of KNF-P cadres, accusing them of vandalising public infrastructure, including a waiting shed and other properties belonging to Ireng Zeliangrong Inpui Naga Village. ZUF also alleged that threats were issued to burn down the entire village and cause harm to its residents.
Describing these acts as serious violations of law and order, ZUF said they amount to a direct infringement on indigenous land rights and pose a threat to public safety. The outfit warned that encroachment upon ancestral land through intimidation, coercion, or misrepresentation of indigenous status cannot be legitimised by propaganda or force.
ZUF also stated that it would not remain a “mute spectator” to illegal encroachment, organised criminal activities, or the presence of illicit drug networks within its ancestral territory.
Reiterating its position, the Front reaffirmed its commitment to protect its people, land, and property from all forms of illegal encroachment, asserting that the ancestral heritage of the Zeliangrong Inpui people is inviolable and that no part of it would be conceded.
