The Indigenous People’s Forum, Manipur (IPFM) has submitted a memorandum to the Justice Gita Mittal Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court, alleging that personnel of the Assam Rifles backed armed Kuki militants in the burning of 25 residential houses belonging to Tangkhul families at Litan Sareikhong Village on February 8, 2026.
In the memorandum, the forum stated that the violent ethnic clashes between Tangkhul Nagas and Kukis at Litan on February 8 had drawn widespread condemnation from various sections of society. It alleged that on the afternoon of the same day, 25 Tangkhul houses were set ablaze in broad daylight by Kuki militants who were “fully backed” by the Assam Rifles.
The IPFM further alleged that the conduct of central security forces eroded public trust, claiming that the forces acted in a partisan manner. According to the memorandum, while houses belonging to Kukis were guarded, Tangkhul residences were left unprotected. The forum also alleged that certain Assam Rifles personnel were involved in dousing operations targeting Tangkhul houses and demanded strict action against those found responsible.
The memorandum further claimed that since February 8, attempts had continued to burn remaining Tangkhul houses in Litan. It alleged that Kuki militants were operating in close proximity to central security forces at Mongkot Chepu, Shangkai and Litan, and accused the forces of extending logistical support to the militants while subjecting Tangkhul residents to harassment.
The forum urged the Justice Gita Mittal Committee to examine the allegations and requested that the Union Government intervene at the earliest to address the situation, citing the hardships faced by residents of Litan. It claimed that more than 25 Tangkhul houses had been reduced to ashes and referred to what it described as a series of allegations against the central paramilitary forces.