8 July 2026 — Six members of the Khumi People’s Force (KPF) were captured following clashes with a joint force of the Arakan Army (AA) and the Kuki Army in the Bangladesh–Myanmar–India tri-border area, according to local sources.
Local sources said the incident took place on 29 June, when a group of seven KPF members was travelling to collect food supplies. The group was ambushed by AA and Kuki Army forces that had been lying in wait along their route.
According to Khumi Media, citing a local resident, no deaths or injuries were reported during the clash. However, six KPF members were captured, while one managed to escape.
Local residents further alleged that AA and Kuki Army forces subsequently overran and destroyed the KPF’s temporary camp in the tri-border area, forcing the remaining KPF members to flee to undisclosed locations.
The same sources claimed that some of the captured KPF members were later blindfolded and released back to nearby villages by the AA.
According to local sources, the KPF’s temporary camp has since been dismantled, and the whereabouts of the remaining fighters remain unknown.
Residents estimated that the KPF unit stationed in the tri-border area comprised around 36 members, including approximately 10 women and several individuals reportedly under the age of 18.
The reported incident comes amid growing internal tensions within the Khumi National Congress Party/Khumi People’s Force (KNCP/KPF). Local sources said the group has experienced leadership disputes and internal disagreements in recent weeks, including what was described as an internal power struggle on 23 June.
When contacted, KNCP officials acknowledged that an internal leadership dispute had occurred within the organization. However, they said they were unable to verify reports that the AA and Kuki Army had attacked and dismantled the KPF camp because they had lost communication with personnel on the ground.
The KNCP/KPF is an armed group based in Paletwa Township that was established in 2025. The group has not publicly outlined its political objectives or organizational platform. – Reporting by Ben
