Fresh violence erupted in Manipur’s Kamjong district on today after armed attacks and retaliatory incidents between Naga and Kuki groups left several houses torched in villages under the Sahamphung Police Station area, officials said.
According to police sources, the first incident occurred at around 8:30 am when armed persons allegedly attacked a Naga village from a nearby Kuki village. At least nine houses were reportedly set ablaze during the attack.
The violence escalated around noon when suspected cadres of the Kuki National Army (KNA-B) and armed village volunteers allegedly launched attacks on other villages in the area. Officials said at least eight more houses were set on fire in the subsequent violence.
Security forces were immediately deployed to the affected villages to contain the situation and prevent further escalation. Officials said the situation remained tense, with security personnel conducting area domination and monitoring developments.
The latest clashes come amid heightened tensions between Naga and Kuki communities following the killing of six Naga civilians, whose bodies were recovered on June 11 after they were allegedly abducted in May. The incident had triggered widespread protests, counter-economic blockades and renewed hostility between the two communities.
The fresh violence also follows recent tensions over the movement of essential commodity convoys to Kuki-inhabited areas and public demonstrations by various organisations.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and additional security measures have been put in place to prevent further incidents. No casualties were officially reported in Wednesday’s violence at the time of filing this report.