At least 25 more houses were set ablaze in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Wednesday, a day after 10 houses were allegedly torched in the same region, according to police and local residents. The latest arson was reported in Tiporam village, where residents said five of the affected houses belonged to members of the Nepali community. The incidents have added to tensions in the district, which has remained affected by prolonged ethnic violence between communities in the state.

A resident of Tiporam, speaking on condition of anonymity, said all 25 houses were set on fire before the suspected attackers left the area. The villagers had earlier been evacuated to Makui, located around 15 kilometres from Tiporam, following violence in the area. Residents reportedly returned to the village on Tuesday but alleged that they came under fire. The circumstances surrounding Wednesday's arson and the identities of those responsible remain unclear.

The latest incident came a day after armed individuals allegedly attacked villages along the Imphal-Tamenglong road and set fire to at least 10 houses. Police said an excavator, a Gypsy vehicle, a pickup truck and a truck were also damaged during the violence. One person, identified as 49-year-old N Luithuibou, suffered bullet injuries to his right abdomen and hand. Local residents identified him as a church pastor, while the wider circumstances of the shooting remain under investigation.

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Earlier on Monday, a group of armed individuals allegedly attacked Teikhang Kuki village, killing three people, including two women, and injuring four others. According to an officer, the attack was followed by gunfire that continued until around 12.30 pm. The successive incidents have raised concerns over the safety of villagers who had previously been displaced because of the violence. Residents also alleged that security forces were informed about the burning of houses but did not take action until Wednesday, though the claim could not be independently verified.

The fresh violence comes against the backdrop of the ethnic conflict that began in Manipur in May 2023 and initially involved the Meitei and Kuki communities before affecting other groups. More than 260 people have been killed and around 60,000 displaced since the clashes began. The Meitei community is concentrated largely in the Imphal Valley, while Kuki-Zo communities predominantly live in the surrounding hill areas. The prolonged conflict has resulted in communities becoming largely separated across areas under their respective influence.

A new state government was formed in February after nearly a year of President’s Rule, with representation from the three major communities as part of an effort to maintain ethnic balance. Authorities have identified sensitive areas, although the state government has maintained that formal buffer zones do not divide communities. The latest incidents in Kangpokpi are likely to place renewed focus on security arrangements in vulnerable villages and the protection of residents returning to areas from which they had previously been evacuated.

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