It also recalled that a few months before the July 12 evening incident, the same police team was learnt to have physically assaulted one civilian from the same area.

It stated that it [KCA Khengjoi] had accorded a warm welcome to the official team from the Home Department on their visit to the border areas on July 12.

It continued that KCA Khengjoi Sub-Division is truly appreciative of the fact that commendable works have been done by the state security forces across the length and breadth of the state, especially in the border areas which led to unprecedented growth and improvement in the state’s security affairs.

However, incidents such as the brutal assault on innocent civilians either with malicious intent to villainize the Kukis community living in the border areas will not augur well in security matters in the future, it stated.

It also stated that the Kukis of the Khengjoi area are by nature peaceful, peace-loving community and have always remained a law-abiding citizen of the country, contributing their mite in the security affairs in the border areas while adding that they wish to concur that such hostile and spiteful attitude of the state force against innocent villagers is not a policy of racial segregation and discrimination upon the minority community.

The association, which is the mandated apex body of the Kukis under Khengjoi Block, will work closely with the people and any ulterior motive, internal or external interference, plan and projects in border areas under Khengjoi block, which is against the interest of the Kukis will be treated as a threat and be dealt with accordingly, it further added.