At least 10 Naga civilians have been killed in separate incidents in Manipur since May 2026, according to media reports, amid a fresh cycle of violence between Naga and Kuki-Zo groups. The casualties include six Naga civilians who were allegedly abducted and subsequently found dead, and four Liangmai Naga civilians killed in an ambush along the Imphal-Tamenglong road. Naga organisations have alleged that armed Kuki groups were responsible for the killings. The allegations have not been independently established.
The fresh violence has added another dangerous dimension to the ethnic crisis that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023. While the original conflict was primarily between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, the emergence of serious Naga-Kuki hostilities in 2026 has widened the security and humanitarian crisis.
According to figures placed before the Manipur Legislative Assembly, 306 people had been killed and 49 remained missing as of August 31, 2026 since the outbreak of the violence in May 2023. The Government has not publicly provided a community-wise official breakup of the 306 deaths between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
The prolonged conflict has also displaced around 60,000 people from their homes. Government figures indicate that approximately 36,000 displaced persons have subsequently been resettled, while thousands continue to live away from their original homes.
An RTI-based report citing the Manipur Home Department recorded 58,881 displaced persons between May 3, 2023 and March 30, 2026. It also recorded 7,894 houses completely destroyed and 2,646 houses partially damaged during the conflict.
The figures highlight the enormous human and material cost of the violence, which has continued to produce fresh casualties even after more than three years of conflict.
The latest Naga-Kuki clashes have raised renewed concerns over the effectiveness of the security apparatus and the failure to prevent attacks on civilians. Naga organisations have demanded stronger action against those responsible for the killings, while Kuki-Zo groups have also reported casualties in the continuing cycle of violence.
With the official death toll now standing at 306, 49 people still missing and tens of thousands displaced, the continuing violence underscores the urgent need for credible investigations, accountability and a comprehensive political process to prevent further civilian deaths.