Manipur, Sept. 14 -- Four houses belonging to Naga families were set on fire in Manipur's Kangpokpi district in what is suspected to be a retaliatory attack, hours after three Kuki civilians were killed in a separate incident, amid rising tensions between the two communities. The arson took place in the Tapon Namsan and Pipuram areas, where unidentified armed men reportedly targeted homes and opened fire. The attack came after three Kuki civilians were killed and four others injured in a firing incident in the same broader region.
The latest violence has intensified concerns over a growing cycle of attacks between Kuki-Zo and Naga communities in parts of Kangpokpi and neighbouring Tamenglong. The area has witnessed a series of clashes and retaliatory incidents in recent months, with civilians and homes repeatedly coming under attack. Security forces, including personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force, its CoBRA unit and Manipur Police, were deployed in the affected areas. Search operations were launched to identify those responsible for the arson and firing. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack. The latest incident follows an August 27 ambush in which four Naga civilians were killed while travelling along the Imphal-Tamenglong road. A subsequent attack on August 31 killed three Kuki civilians, further aggravating tensions along the sensitive corridor.
The violence has raised fears of further retaliatory attacks, particularly in villages where Kuki and Naga populations live in close proximity. Community representatives have repeatedly called for restraint and impartial investigations, warning against attributing responsibility to entire communities for the actions of armed perpetrators. The developments add to the continuing security challenges in Manipur, where violence that began in 2023 has evolved into additional tensions involving different ethnic communities. The recent incidents have highlighted the vulnerability of civilians living in remote hill areas and along key road corridors.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.