Imphal, Jun 27 (PTI) Tangkhul Naga civil society organisations in Manipur on Friday issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Kuki community, for handing over those involved in the June 26 attack on a passenger vehicle in Ukhrul district, in which two persons were injured.

The Tangkhul Naga, one of the major Naga tribes, is an ethnic group primarily residing in Ukhrul district of Manipur and parts of neighbouring Myanmar.

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The ultimatum, jointly issued by the Katho Katamnao Long and the Tangkhul Naga Valley Students' Association, came a day after a mob, the members of which were suspected to be Kukis, allegedly assaulted the driver of the vehicle and injured a female passenger in Mongkot Chepu village.

The civil society organisations demanded that the miscreants be handed over to them within 24 hours, failing which there would be "serious consequences" and no Kukis would be allowed to enter Ukhrul district where Nagas are in majority.

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The vehicle was going to Ukhrul when it was intercepted and attacked.

This is not the first instance in which Kuki community members residing along the stretch of Ukhrul to Imphal road, have engaged in such unwarranted actions against commuters, the groups claimed in a statement.

Alleging that Kukis have proved that they do not want peace, the statement said, “Ever since the May 3, 2023, incident, our efforts to live in peace and cordial harmony have been overlooked and often seen as weakness and cowardice.”

Manipur, which witnessed the killing of at least 260 people in ethnic violence since May 2023, is currently under President's rule. The strife between the Meitei and Kuki communities also rendered thousands of people homeless forcing them to stay in relief camps. Nagas were more or less not involved in the conflict.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)