Fresh Naga-Kuki Clashes Erupt As Village Torched In Manipur Border Areas

Fresh violence erupted in Manipur's Kamjong district on Wednesday after unidentified miscreants allegedly set fire to the deserted Kuki village of Phaimol, destroying all residential houses while leaving the village church untouched. The incident triggered renewed tensions in the border region, with security forces preventing a retaliatory attack on the nearby Tangkhul Naga village of Shangkhalok, officials said. The latest clashes come amid heightened friction between Naga and Kuki communities following the May 13 ambushes that claimed the lives of three church leaders and a Naga man.

According to police, the incident took place around 12.30 pm when unidentified individuals entered Phaimol village, located about 45 kilometres northeast of Chassad Police Station near Indo-Myanmar border pillar number 113, and allegedly set the settlement on fire. Authorities said the village had already been evacuated, with residents taking shelter at Aishi village, where an Assam Rifles camp is stationed. As a result, no casualties were reported in the arson attack.

The blaze destroyed 15 houses in Phaimol, reducing them to ashes, while the village church remained unharmed. Officials said the absence of residents helped avert loss of life, although the destruction has displaced families who had already fled the area due to prevailing security concerns. Police and security agencies have launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the attack.

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In an apparent retaliatory move, another unidentified group entered Shangkhalok, a Tangkhul Naga village located near Indo-Myanmar border pillar number 101, at around 1.45 pm. Security forces responded swiftly and prevented the attackers from causing extensive damage. However, officials said several structures were affected during the incident. Some temporary thatched shelters occupied by Myanmar refugees and a few Tangkhul community houses were completely destroyed, while seven Tangkhul Naga houses were partially damaged but saved. Another seven to eight houses in the village escaped the fire.

Police also reported that seven houses in Huimine Thana, a Tangkhul village situated between Shangkhalok and Phaikoh, were completely gutted in the violence. Security personnel have since intensified deployment across the affected border villages to prevent further escalation and maintain law and order. Patrols have been strengthened in vulnerable areas, while authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.

The latest incidents have heightened concerns over deteriorating relations between the Naga and Kuki communities in Manipur's border districts. Tensions have remained elevated since the May 13 ambushes, in which three church leaders and a Naga man were killed, triggering fresh mistrust between the communities. Authorities have appealed for restraint and urged residents not to spread rumours that could inflame the situation further. Investigations into the arson attacks are ongoing, with security agencies working to identify the perpetrators and prevent further violence in the sensitive border region.

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