Fresh violence erupted in Manipur's Ukhrul district on Monday afternoon after armed miscreants allegedly set fire to several houses in Litan Sareikhong village, officials said. Armed groups reportedly fired multiple rounds in the air near the hill village, forcing residents to flee with essential belongings to safer areas in the neighbouring Kangpokpi district. Several Tangkhul villagers were also reported to have left the area.
The latest flare-up follows an incident on Saturday night, when a member of the Tangkhul Naga community was allegedly assaulted by seven to eight individuals in Litan village. Officials said the matter was initially resolved between the victim's family and the chief of Litan Sareikhong, with an agreement to settle the issue through customary practices. A follow-up meeting scheduled for Sunday, however, did not take place.
Instead, tension escalated after villagers from nearby Sikibung allegedly attacked the residence of the Litan Sareikhong village chief. The group also reportedly fired shots while passing near the Litan police station. Later on Sunday night, members of two tribal groups engaged in heavy stone pelting, prompting the administration to impose prohibitory orders in the area.
Around midnight on Monday, several houses belonging to members of the Tangkhul Naga community were allegedly set ablaze by Kuki militants at Litan Sareikhong, officials said. A few houses belonging to the Kuki community were also reportedly torched in a nearby area.
State minister Govindas Konthoujam said the situation on the ground remained tense, with extensive damage reported. "The ground situation is very tense. Deputy Chief Minister L Dikho is at the spot interacting with villagers. Till 5 am today, 17 houses were burnt. Now, altogether 21 houses have been gutted," he told reporters, adding that additional security forces had been deployed.
Earlier, a team led by Deputy Chief Minister L Dikho, along with Tangkhul Naga civil bodies and a Kuki MLA, held peace meetings at Litan. Representatives from the Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Shanao Long, Assam Rifles, the Ukhrul MLA, state officials, and members of the Kuki community attended the discussions. Dikho also visited affected areas and held separate meetings with Naga and Kuki village heads.
Calling for calm, Dikho said both communities were committed to restoring peace. "The meeting has been very fruitful and positive. Everyone wants peace. While it is difficult to reach an immediate conclusion, there is consensus that the violence should not continue," he said, stressing that the incident was triggered by the actions of a few individuals and should not escalate into wider communal tension.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh visited the injured at RIMS Hospital and assured them of medical support. In a social media post, he said the incident, arising out of a misunderstanding, was now under control and appealed to all communities to exercise restraint, uphold the rule of law, and maintain peace and harmony.
