India, July 2 -- Tensions escalated in Manipur's Kamjong district on Wednesday after unidentified miscreants allegedly set ablaze the deserted Kuki village of Phaimol, destroying all houses but sparing the village church, while security forces thwarted a retaliatory attempt to torch the nearby Tangkhul Naga village of Shangkhalok, officials said.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 12.30pm when unknown miscreants entered Phaimol village, located about 45km northeast of Chassad police station near Indo-Myanmar border pillar number 113, and set it on fire.

Authorities said the residents of Phaimol had already vacated the village and were taking shelter at Aishi village, where an Assam Rifles camp is located.

The fire de...