A new government has been formed in Manipur after the withdrawal of President's Rule. However, unrest has not stopped in this northeastern state.
Violence erupted in Manipur’s Ukhrul district after a Tangkhul Naga community member was allegedly assaulted, leading to arson attacks on houses belonging to both Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities, officials said on Monday.
According to officials, armed militants allegedly torched several houses as tensions flared in the area. On Sunday evening, members of the two tribal groups engaged in intense stone pelting at Litan village, prompting the administration to impose prohibitory orders.
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Around midnight on Monday, several houses belonging to the Tangkhul Naga community were set on fire at Litan Sareikhong, allegedly by Kuki militants. Subsequently, a few houses of Kuki community members were also torched in a nearby area, officials said. Tangkhul is the largest Naga tribe in Manipur, while Litan Sareikhong is a Kuki village.
“The damages are being ascertained, and the situation remains tense,” a district official told PTI. Video footage circulating on social media showed armed men setting fire to houses and vehicles, and militants in camouflage firing sophisticated weapons in the air. PTI said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the clips.
Additional security personnel have been deployed at Mahadev, Lambui, Shangkai and other routes leading to Litan to maintain law and order and prevent the movement of suspicious persons, the official said. On Sunday evening, security forces also fired tear gas shells to disperse the two tribal groups that clashed at Litan Sareikhong village.
Prohibitory orders imposed, security stepped up
A notification issued by the Ukhrul district magistrate cited apprehension of a breach of peace and tranquillity due to tensions between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities. District Magistrate Asish Das said in the order that movement outside residences was prohibited from 7 pm on Sunday until further orders, with exemptions for government officials and security personnel.
Officials said the violence followed the alleged assault of a Tangkhul Naga community member by seven to eight persons at Litan village on Saturday night. The issue was initially settled between the victim’s side and the chief of Litan Sareikhong, with both parties agreeing to resolve it through customary means and a meeting scheduled for Sunday. However, the meeting did not take place. Instead, villagers from nearby Sikibung allegedly attacked the residence of the chief of Litan Sareikhong and reportedly fired seven rounds while passing through the vicinity of Litan police station.
