The Joint Tribes Students’ Association (JTSA) has vehemently condemned the blatant incident that took place early September 5, 2023, where a Liangmai leader Hotngambou Zuinamai, son of Akongbou Zuinamai, 56 years, former chairman of Lenglong village, Tamenglong distric,t was brutally assaulted by suspected cadres of Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA). The JTSA ia a conglomerate of Inpui, Zeme, Rongmei, Liangmai student bodies.
A release by the Media Cell of JTSA stated that on the fateful day, Hotngambou Zuinamai and his wife were traveling in a Bolero pick-up towards Imphal carrying veggies for sale. While reaching Chalwa, a Kuki village, around 7:30 am, two Kuki miscreants came on a bike and halted the vehicle and demanded a sum of money as a tax.
In the middle of their negotiations, Zuinamai was punched in the face since he was not in a position to afford their demands. Then, he was profusely bleeding from the nose. They hit him again on his cheek too and then fledfrom the scene after telling him that they were from KRA, the JTSA said.
Then, on reaching Kangpokpi around 12 noon, Zuinamai was again halted by two Kuki insurgents belonging to the UKLF and demanded Rs 2000 as tax.
While the Inpui, Zeme, Rongmei, Liangmai people have been tirelessly trying hard to salvage the overwhelming consequences of the civil war that has disrupted everyday life and also shared empathetic emotions and fervently praying for divine intervention, regardless of whichever community, the JTSA is totally shocked and have taken offence over the evil and deliberate act of physical assault and harassment that belonged to one of our brother a Liangmai Naga and his lady wife, the students’ body stated.
While it is pertinent to note that, the Kuki people have been living in our Zeliangrongpui Naga land, they have been taking have been taking undue advantage and creating continuous ruckus in the IT Road and Highways time and again is a questionable act, the students’ body stated.
The JTSA also stated that, though peace-loving community the Zeliangrong people are, it raises a question as to whether the intention of the Kuki was a malice to personally target four cognate tribes of Naga.
“The JTSA explicitly serves this as a final warning and we will not remain a mute spectator to this insidious behaviour. The JTSA demands that stringent action befitted upon the Kukis miscreants and justice be delivered only through the Naga highest customary laws by the Naga Apex body”, the Media Cell of the JTSA stated.
