IMPHAL: A woman was shot and more than 20 houses were burnt after suspected Myanmar-based Kuki militants launched coordinated attacks on three villages along the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Kamjong district early Thursday, police sources said.Police said the attacks targeted the villages of Choro, Wanglee and Namlee.The injured woman, a Myanmar national sheltered in a refugee camp in Namlee, suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh and was taken to Imphal for treatment, a police officer said.Police said 20 houses were burned in Choro, while one house was set on fire in Wanglee and Namlee, forcing residents to flee.Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), an apex body of the Tangkhul Nagas, alleged that the attacks were carried out by the People’s Defense Force (PDF) backed by the Kuki-Burma National Army (KNA-B), an armed group operating in Myanmar.“Tangkhul Naga villages namely Choro, Wanglee and Namlee under the jurisdiction of Kamjong district of Manipur were simultaneously invaded around 3.30 am on Thursday when the settlements were bombed by drones, several houses razed, villagers looted and shot at by the foreign war group,” the TNL said.TNL said a civilian was also injured in Choro and suspected villagers were detained and tortured.“External aggression on Indian soil has created panic, fear and insecurity among citizens as women, children and other villagers were left homeless and are now taking shelter in the jungle, while many others remain missing,” he said.KNA-B has denied involvement. “KNA-B is not involved in any activities within Indian territory,” he said. “Our mission is to restore democracy in Myanmar. We have consistently called for peace and dialogue between all parties in the region and urge the Ukhrul and Kamjong communities to prevent these incidents from turning into ethnic conflict,” he added.Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh described the attack as “cross-border terrorism” and said indigenous communities were facing sustained external aggression from across the Indo-Myanmar border. He called for stricter border security measures and said central and state forces must remain prepared to protect civilians and ensure stability.