Special Correspondent
Ukhrul/Litan, February 9:
Litan Sareikhong has once again become a battlefield of fear, fire and forced displacement, as renewed violence tore through the fragile fabric of peace, leaving more than 30 houses reduced to ashes and exposing the stark failure of political dialogue to resolve the core dispute gripping the region.
On the night of February 7, the village witnessed a fresh wave of arson attacks that plunged the area into chaos. At least 24 houses were set on fire late at night—20 belonging to the Tangkhul community and 4 to the Kuki community, including an abandoned house. The violence did not end there. In broad daylight the following afternoon, nearly 7 more houses belonging to both communities were torched again, despite heavy deployment of security forces.
The incidents have not only deepened mistrust between the communities but have also shattered any illusion that peace could be restored through temporary arrangements and routine security deployments.
High-level peace talks: Consensus without courage, dialogue without decision
In an emergency attempt to prevent total collapse of order, a high-level joint meeting was convened at the Litan Police Station complex. The meeting brought together Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah, Saikul MLA Kimneo Hangsing, Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) President Eno Sword Vashum, the Litan Kuki Chief, and representatives of both communities.
The discussions revolved around restoring calm and preventing further escalation. Both sides formally agreed to pursue peace. Yet, behind the carefully worded statements, the reality was stark: no definite solution was reached, no binding agreement was forged, and no roadmap for resolving the dispute was presented.
The only immediate outcome was the decision to contain the crisis through massive deployment of joint security forces, including CRPF, BSF and state police—an admission that the state has no immediate political or legal solution to the conflict.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho described the talks as “positive and fruitful,” claiming that both communities had agreed to maintain peace and that the government would extend all possible assistance. He assured that the law would take its own course and that those responsible for the violence would be brought to book.
However, the ground reality tells a far more disturbing story.
Land ownership: The unresolved core that fuels the fire
TNL President Eno Sword Vashum delivered a blunt and uncompromising statement that cut through diplomatic optimism and political caution.
“We want peace, but not at the cost of denying the rightful land owner. If the legitimate owner is disregarded, how can a lasting solution ever be achieved?” he said, challenging the very foundation of the ongoing peace process.
His remarks underscore the central truth of the Litan conflict: the crisis is not merely communal but fundamentally rooted in the unresolved question of land ownership and historical rights. Without acknowledging and resolving this core issue, any peace agreement, leaders fear, will remain fragile and temporary.
Villagers flee as houses, government quarters burnt
Violence rocked the adjoining villages of Litan and Mangkot in Ukhrul district, forcing residents to flee their homes after clashes erupted between members of the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities. Police said that 25 houses and 4 government quarters were burnt down during the incident.
Officials at Litan Police Station said a preliminary assessment indicated that at least 2 of the burnt houses belonged to members of the Kuki community. The violence broke out late Sunday night around 11.30 pm at Litan Bazar when miscreants, reportedly in large numbers, began torching houses. Police said gunshots believed to be from automatic rifles were also heard, triggering panic among residents.
Fearing further escalation, residents from both communities abandoned their homes. Villagers were seen leaving the area in trucks, private vehicles and on foot, carrying household items, mattresses and other valuables they could salvage.
In response, the Ukhrul District Magistrate imposed curfew in Litan village from Sunday evening until further orders, citing apprehension of breach of peace and threat to life and property. Heavy deployment of security forces, including the BSF, CRPF and Assam Rifles, was carried out. Additional forces from CAPF, the 8 Bihar Regiment and the 4th Mahar Regiment were also deployed.
A Manipur Police team led by an Inspector General (Law and Order) reviewed the situation. Saikul MLA Kimneo Haokip and Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah visited the affected areas.
Police said the violence was triggered by a drunken brawl on February 7 at Litan Sareikhong, during which a Tangkhul Naga man identified as Sterling was seriously injured and later shifted to a hospital in Imphal. As clashes escalated, security forces fired teargas shells to disperse stone-pelting mobs.
An FIR has been registered, and further investigation is underway.
Ground zero: Exodus, ruins and a village under siege
A visit to the ground zero reveals a haunting picture of devastation and despair. Charred remains of houses stand as silent witnesses to the violence. Families were seen hurriedly packing their belongings into DI vehicles, preparing to flee their ancestral land in fear of further attacks.
Many residents have already left Litan, turning once-vibrant roads into deserted corridors. The village now resembles a conflict zone, with armed security forces stationed at every strategic point along the highway and within the village.
Yet, the heavy security presence has failed to restore a sense of safety. Fear hangs thick in the air, and uncertainty dominates every conversation.
Peace on paper, fire on the ground
While leaders claim that peace has been agreed upon, the absence of a tangible settlement has left Litan on the brink of another explosion. The gap between political statements and ground reality has never been more evident.
Observers warn that unless the fundamental issue of land ownership is addressed with courage, transparency and justice, Litan will continue to burn—both literally and metaphorically.
As of now, the situation remains tense, volatile and unpredictable. With no concrete solution in sight, Litan stands as a stark symbol of Manipur’s unresolved conflicts and the dangerous cost of delayed political decisions.
In Litan, peace has been promised—but the flames of conflict are far from extinguished.
