Manipur has witnessed another serious outbreak of violence, with at least nine people killed and several houses set on fire across its hill districts over a period of approximately 24 hours. The latest incidents have been reported in Kamjong, Kangpokpi and Ukhrul, amid renewed tensions involving members of the Naga and Kuki communities.
The violence began on Friday night in Chassad village in Kamjong district, where a 42-year-old Kuki woman, identified as Domkhonei Touthang, was killed by gunfire. The incident was followed by exchanges of fire between armed groups and further attacks in nearby areas.
According to reports citing officials, a joint security team comprising Manipur Police, India Reserve Battalion personnel and Border Security Force personnel had gone to Chassad to dismantle alleged illegal bunkers. During the operation, some local women reportedly attempted to obstruct the drive, while unidentified individuals opened fire. Security personnel retaliated.
The circumstances surrounding the woman’s death have been reported differently by local accounts and officials. Her killing was followed by further violence in the village, with several houses belonging to members of the Naga and Kuki communities reportedly set on fire.
Shootings reported in multiple districts
In another incident in Chassad, a 22-year-old man was also killed during the subsequent violence. Reports have separately identified a 23-year-old Kuki man, Michael Ngamminlen Haokip, as having been shot dead in the area. The precise circumstances and sequence of these reported deaths require further official clarification.
Two Naga residents were reportedly killed in a shooting at Ningchou village in Kamjong district, a Tangkhul Naga settlement near the Myanmar border. The victims were identified in reports as Ngachanso Ningshen and Leishishan Hungyo. Local accounts suggested that the attackers may have escaped towards the international border, although the identities of those responsible had not been independently established.
Violence was also reported in Kangpokpi district. Three Naga village guards were reportedly killed in an attack at Makui village. In a separate incident at Tapon, a village volunteer was killed and two others were injured in an ambush. The injured were taken to Senapati for treatment.
In neighbouring Ukhrul district, a commuter identified as Sandeep Rai, aged around 30, was shot dead when unidentified armed men allegedly ambushed the vehicle he was travelling in near Konjang village along National Highway 202. The motive behind the attack and the identity of the assailants remain unclear.
The incidents have raised concerns about the spread of violence beyond the initial flashpoint in Chassad. Reports of attacks on civilians and village volunteers have added to tensions in an already fragile security environment.
Houses and shops set on fire
Arson has been reported alongside the shootings. Initial reports referred to at least 10 houses being set on fire in Chassad. Subsequent reporting indicated that the number of affected properties may be higher, with reports of shops also being damaged or burned.
The exact extent of property damage and the number of families displaced have not been established through a consolidated official assessment.
The Kamjong district administration imposed prohibitory restrictions around Chassad Police Gate Junction. The restrictions were introduced to prevent gatherings and reduce the possibility of further violence. Security forces have also been deployed in vulnerable areas.
Government response and security concerns
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the killing of civilians and the renewed violence. He directed the administration to take immediate measures to restore law and order.
The Chief Minister also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to brief him on the situation in the state. According to reports, Modi assured the state government of all possible assistance in restoring peace and normalcy.
The state government has highlighted efforts to restore transport connectivity, including the movement of goods vehicles along important national highways and the resumption of bus services connecting Imphal with other cities.
However, the latest incidents underline the continuing challenges facing security agencies in the hill districts, particularly where armed groups, local village volunteers and competing community claims have contributed to an increasingly volatile situation.
A conflict with multiple layers
The latest violence comes against the backdrop of the wider ethnic conflict that began in Manipur in May 2023, primarily involving the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The fresh clashes in the hill districts have also brought Naga-Kuki tensions into sharper focus.
The two developments should not be treated as identical. The immediate incidents reported this weekend involve allegations and clashes between armed groups associated with different communities in specific districts. Establishing responsibility for individual attacks will require investigation and independent verification.
The state has continued to face displacement, damage to homes and businesses, and prolonged security challenges since the 2023 violence. The latest deaths risk further worsening mistrust between communities and making efforts to restore normalcy more difficult.
For now, the immediate priorities remain protecting civilians, preventing retaliatory attacks, ensuring safe movement on highways, and establishing the facts behind each killing. Authorities will also need to investigate the arson and identify those responsible without attributing collective blame to entire communities.
The situation remains sensitive, and casualty figures and details of individual incidents may change as more information becomes available.
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