Massacres perpetrated by the Kukis during the British Rule in India
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Senior Prof K Yugindro Singh (Retd)
Contd from previous issue
24. In February 1875, a party of Khongjai Kukis allegedly from Manipur attacked Namphee, a village situated in the northern boundary of the Kabo Valley and killed 45 men, women and children [Mackenzie 1884: pp.193].
25. In February 1880, the Chasad Kukis carried out a ferocious raid on the Chingsao village in Mani-pur, wherein 45 people were slain, 3 carried off into captivity and half of village burnt. Col. Johnstone, then Political Agent in Manipur, who had investigated the raid, said: “The next day I investigated the case, and found that, as reported, twenty males and twenty-five females had been murdered. I saw the fresh graves and dug up one as evidence, the bodies contained in it were those of a mother and child, and presented a frightful spectacle with half of the heads cut off, including the scalp, and both in an advanced state of decomposition. It appeared that a demand has been made by Tonghoo, the Chussad Chief, that the Chingsow Nagas should submit to him and pay tribute, but they, of course, refused as subjects of Manipur. They heard of nothing more till they were attacked on the morning of the fatal day. The people had just begun to stir, and some had lighted their fires, when suddenly they heard the fire of musketry at the entrance of the village. They ran out of their houses, and the Chussads fell upon them, and the massacre commenced. The assailants were about fifty in number, and the people in their terror were driven in all directions, and slaughtered, some being shot and others being cut down by daos” [Johnstone 1896: pp.184].
26. In January 1881, Mooling, a Tangkhul village on the west of Chattik was attacked by the Kukis, 15 persons being killed and 5 carried off [FD-EA 1882: pp.7].
27. On 3rd February 1888, a party of Kukis led by a Shendu chief made a surprise raid on a survey party under Lieutenant JF Stewart at a place only 18 miles from Rangamati, near the Saichul Range, killing 3 Europeans (including Stewart) and one sepoy. Mr Stewart apparently had not the smallest idea that any danger threatened and took no precautions whatsoever for the safety of himself or his party [Reid 1942: pp.1].
28. On 15th February 1888, a raid was perpetrated by Shendu Kukis on the village of Roazo Prenkhyn Mro in the Chema Valley, in which 6 persons were killed, 2 wounded, and 23 prisoners taken [Reid 1942: pp.1].
29. On 8th January 1889, a party of about 600 men led by Lenypunga (or Lianphunga) and his brother Zarok [Zahrawka], sons of Silkpila1 [Suakpuilala] had descended on the valley which lay on the Chittagong Frontier and within 2 marches of Rangamati, burnt 24 villages, killed 101 persons and carried off 91 captives [Reid 1942: pp.8].
30. On the 13th December, 1888 an attack, characterised by unusual ferocity, was made by the Lushai Kukis under three Sylu chiefs, Nikama, Lungliena, and Kairuma, on a village in Demagiri belonging to chieftainess Pakuma Rani. The Rani and 21 of her subjects were slain and 15 were carried off as captives. Neither age nor sex was spared, and, to complete their work of destruction, the raiders set fire to the village containing the headless corpses of their unfortunate victims [Reid 1893: pp.45-46].
31. In 1889, between 8th and 10th January, the Lushai Kukis numbering about 400 under Sylo chiefs Lalpunga and Zaroka, carried out raids in 24 villages in the Upper Chengri Valley, about 43 miles north-west of Rangamatti . They destroyed the villages, killed 101 persons and took 91 persons as captives [Reid 1893: pp.46]
32. In July 1891, six men of Atteng, a Kabui Naga village near the Manipur- Cachar Road went to meet the chief of a group of Kuki villages (viz., Phalpi, Changchin, Multan Paipijung, Laipimul, Bhum Kattan & Thangchung) for delivering the tusks of an elephant killed by the Nagas. The Kukis killed five of the Nagas, and the sixth man escaped badly wounded, but before he had time to reach the village, the Kukis raided it, and killed 52 persons including women and children, while losing two of their own men in action. A small boy was taken away as captive [AAR 1891-92: pp.165].
33. In June 1891, the Kukis of Pakop and Sylim came to Makui Naga village near Keithelmanbi on the Manipur-Kohima road asking for some of the dhan from the State granary. When the custodians refused, they were attacked by the Kukis and three were killed. Later the Kukis expressed regret to the Makui villagers, and in order to show contrition and a desire for forgiveness, invited the Nagas to a feast at a stream halfway between the two villages. When the dinner was in progress, the Kukis turned on their guests, and murdered 17 [AAR 1891-92: pp.165].
34. In April, 1893, a band of Kukis led by Toki, chief of Nungtam Kuki village fell upon the Koirau Naga village at Swemi (Chingjurai) in the gray light of the early morning when the people of the village were still sleeping in their houses. Taken unawares they could not flight, and there was no time to fly; 286 people including 187 women and children were killed. Because of the occurrence of this massacre known as the Swemi Massacre, the population of Swemi village was reduced to about 120 from its earlier figure of more than 400 [Allen 1905: 40 & FD-EA 1894: pp.7].
35. In April 1909, the Aishan Kukis shot dead one man and a women from Temimi, a British village.
In the same month, the Kukis from Kanzang and Pang villages raided on three hamlets at Kongai, Wakhong, Rachai villages within the Manipur State territory and carried away two men and some agricultural implements [FD-EA 1909: pp.1].
36. In the past few years preceding 1910, the Aishan Kukis living in about 160 houses took 258 heads from neighbouring from Naga villages in the Naga Hills as per the following break-up: (i) Karami Naga village (150 heads taken), (ii) Photsomi Naga village (26 heads taken), (iii) Techunasami Naga (37 heads taken), (iv) Niyemi Naga village (35 heads taken), and (v) Thonami Naga village (10 heads taken). B.C. Allen, then Officiating Secretary to the Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam reported to the higher authority that the Kukis were blood- thirsty savages who did not even spare the lives of women and children in their raids. After obtaining sanction from the Government of India, a punitive expedition led by the then Deputy Commissioner, Naga Hills was sent against the Aishan Kukis and 76 guns were collected from 11 Kuki villages. [FD-EA 1910: pp.10-11].
37. In July, 1914, a party of 400 followers of Komyang, a chief of Somra tract, raided Konkailon Khunao, a Tangkhul village and took 5 heads of Tangkhul villagers walking on the road [FD-EA 1914: pp.4].
38. In September, 1914, the Chasad Kukis raided Konkailon Kulel, a Tangkhul village with 70 to 150 persons being killed and 5 taken as captives [FD-EA 1914: pp.4].
(To be contd)
Contd from previous issue
24. In February 1875, a party of Khongjai Kukis allegedly from Manipur attacked Namphee, a village situated in the northern boundary of the Kabo Valley and killed 45 men, women and children [Mackenzie 1884: pp.193].
25. In February 1880, the Chasad Kukis carried out a ferocious raid on the Chingsao village in Mani-pur, wherein 45 people were slain, 3 carried off into captivity and half of village burnt. Col. Johnstone, then Political Agent in Manipur, who had investigated the raid, said: “The next day I investigated the case, and found that, as reported, twenty males and twenty-five females had been murdered. I saw the fresh graves and dug up one as evidence, the bodies contained in it were those of a mother and child, and presented a frightful spectacle with half of the heads cut off, including the scalp, and both in an advanced state of decomposition. It appeared that a demand has been made by Tonghoo, the Chussad Chief, that the Chingsow Nagas should submit to him and pay tribute, but they, of course, refused as subjects of Manipur. They heard of nothing more till they were attacked on the morning of the fatal day. The people had just begun to stir, and some had lighted their fires, when suddenly they heard the fire of musketry at the entrance of the village. They ran out of their houses, and the Chussads fell upon them, and the massacre commenced. The assailants were about fifty in number, and the people in their terror were driven in all directions, and slaughtered, some being shot and others being cut down by daos” [Johnstone 1896: pp.184].
26. In January 1881, Mooling, a Tangkhul village on the west of Chattik was attacked by the Kukis, 15 persons being killed and 5 carried off [FD-EA 1882: pp.7].
27. On 3rd February 1888, a party of Kukis led by a Shendu chief made a surprise raid on a survey party under Lieutenant JF Stewart at a place only 18 miles from Rangamati, near the Saichul Range, killing 3 Europeans (including Stewart) and one sepoy. Mr Stewart apparently had not the smallest idea that any danger threatened and took no precautions whatsoever for the safety of himself or his party [Reid 1942: pp.1].
28. On 15th February 1888, a raid was perpetrated by Shendu Kukis on the village of Roazo Prenkhyn Mro in the Chema Valley, in which 6 persons were killed, 2 wounded, and 23 prisoners taken [Reid 1942: pp.1].
29. On 8th January 1889, a party of about 600 men led by Lenypunga (or Lianphunga) and his brother Zarok [Zahrawka], sons of Silkpila1 [Suakpuilala] had descended on the valley which lay on the Chittagong Frontier and within 2 marches of Rangamati, burnt 24 villages, killed 101 persons and carried off 91 captives [Reid 1942: pp.8].
30. On the 13th December, 1888 an attack, characterised by unusual ferocity, was made by the Lushai Kukis under three Sylu chiefs, Nikama, Lungliena, and Kairuma, on a village in Demagiri belonging to chieftainess Pakuma Rani. The Rani and 21 of her subjects were slain and 15 were carried off as captives. Neither age nor sex was spared, and, to complete their work of destruction, the raiders set fire to the village containing the headless corpses of their unfortunate victims [Reid 1893: pp.45-46].
31. In 1889, between 8th and 10th January, the Lushai Kukis numbering about 400 under Sylo chiefs Lalpunga and Zaroka, carried out raids in 24 villages in the Upper Chengri Valley, about 43 miles north-west of Rangamatti . They destroyed the villages, killed 101 persons and took 91 persons as captives [Reid 1893: pp.46]
32. In July 1891, six men of Atteng, a Kabui Naga village near the Manipur- Cachar Road went to meet the chief of a group of Kuki villages (viz., Phalpi, Changchin, Multan Paipijung, Laipimul, Bhum Kattan & Thangchung) for delivering the tusks of an elephant killed by the Nagas. The Kukis killed five of the Nagas, and the sixth man escaped badly wounded, but before he had time to reach the village, the Kukis raided it, and killed 52 persons including women and children, while losing two of their own men in action. A small boy was taken away as captive [AAR 1891-92: pp.165].
33. In June 1891, the Kukis of Pakop and Sylim came to Makui Naga village near Keithelmanbi on the Manipur-Kohima road asking for some of the dhan from the State granary. When the custodians refused, they were attacked by the Kukis and three were killed. Later the Kukis expressed regret to the Makui villagers, and in order to show contrition and a desire for forgiveness, invited the Nagas to a feast at a stream halfway between the two villages. When the dinner was in progress, the Kukis turned on their guests, and murdered 17 [AAR 1891-92: pp.165].
34. In April, 1893, a band of Kukis led by Toki, chief of Nungtam Kuki village fell upon the Koirau Naga village at Swemi (Chingjurai) in the gray light of the early morning when the people of the village were still sleeping in their houses. Taken unawares they could not flight, and there was no time to fly; 286 people including 187 women and children were killed. Because of the occurrence of this massacre known as the Swemi Massacre, the population of Swemi village was reduced to about 120 from its earlier figure of more than 400 [Allen 1905: 40 & FD-EA 1894: pp.7].
35. In April 1909, the Aishan Kukis shot dead one man and a women from Temimi, a British village.
In the same month, the Kukis from Kanzang and Pang villages raided on three hamlets at Kongai, Wakhong, Rachai villages within the Manipur State territory and carried away two men and some agricultural implements [FD-EA 1909: pp.1].
36. In the past few years preceding 1910, the Aishan Kukis living in about 160 houses took 258 heads from neighbouring from Naga villages in the Naga Hills as per the following break-up: (i) Karami Naga village (150 heads taken), (ii) Photsomi Naga village (26 heads taken), (iii) Techunasami Naga (37 heads taken), (iv) Niyemi Naga village (35 heads taken), and (v) Thonami Naga village (10 heads taken). B.C. Allen, then Officiating Secretary to the Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam reported to the higher authority that the Kukis were blood- thirsty savages who did not even spare the lives of women and children in their raids. After obtaining sanction from the Government of India, a punitive expedition led by the then Deputy Commissioner, Naga Hills was sent against the Aishan Kukis and 76 guns were collected from 11 Kuki villages. [FD-EA 1910: pp.10-11].
37. In July, 1914, a party of 400 followers of Komyang, a chief of Somra tract, raided Konkailon Khunao, a Tangkhul village and took 5 heads of Tangkhul villagers walking on the road [FD-EA 1914: pp.4].
38. In September, 1914, the Chasad Kukis raided Konkailon Kulel, a Tangkhul village with 70 to 150 persons being killed and 5 taken as captives [FD-EA 1914: pp.4].
(To be contd)