UPF and KNO Condemn ZUF (K) Over Burning of K. Songlung Village, Say It Will Be Held Responsible

Imphal, Jan 26: The United People’s Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organization (KNO) have strongly condemned the Zeliangrong United Front (Kamson), accusing it of setting fire to the Kuki Zo village of K. Songlung on January 26.

In a joint press statement issued on Monday, UPF and KNO described ZUF (Kamson) as a “rogue organisation” allegedly acting at the behest of vested interests, and said the attack on the village was carried out under the pretext of destroying poppy cultivation. The organisations termed the incident “abominable” and said K. Songlung is an ordinary farming community with no involvement in illicit activities.

The statement alleged that the burning of the village reflected what it described as “petty and mean-minded” actions incompatible with peaceful coexistence, and further claimed that ZUF (Kamson) had links with actors from the Imphal valley. It asserted that such actions harm not only the Kuki Zo community but also the broader hill tribal population, including the Zeliangrong community itself.

ALSO READ: Rongmei Naga Condemns Killing in Churachandpur, Deplores Burning of K. Songlung Village

UPF and KNO warned that ZUF (Kamson) would be held solely responsible for any further violence arising from the incident. The organisations said the act of arson could trigger wider unrest and urged accountability for those involved.

Concluding the statement, UPF and KNO said that violence against villages would only deepen divisions and called for an end to actions that threaten communal harmony. The statement was issued by the Information and Publicity wing of UPF and KNO.