Manipur violence across the state’s hill districts has killed nine people in roughly 12 hours, with houses and shops torched and gunfights reported in Kamjong, Kangpokpi and Ukhrul, according to a report by the Times of India. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders in Kamjong, while an indefinite shutdown call affected National Highway 202, a key route in the region.
The dead included six Nagas, two Kukis and a Gorkha farmer, the report said. The latest deaths have taken the toll in Naga-Kuki clashes since February to at least 22 Nagas and 31 Kukis. The violence has occurred across several districts, including Kangpokpi, Tamenglong, Noney, Jiribam, Kamjong and Senapati.
The immediate escalation followed the death of Domkhonei Touthang, a 42-year-old Kuki woman, at Chassad village in Kamjong on Friday night. She had been among people protesting the dismantling of village guard posts by joint teams of the police, the Indian Reserve Battalion and the Border Security Force. Police sources told the Times of India that she was caught in crossfire between security forces and militants. She suffered bullet wounds to her leg and chest and died at around 10pm.
Kuki-Zo groups blamed security forces and the NSCN (IM) for her death. The report said the allegations were not independently confirmed by state authorities, which had not identified those responsible for the attacks.
By early Saturday, unidentified groups from the Kuki and Naga communities were reported to have set fire to homes and shops in areas associated with the other community. At Chassad, 22-year-old Michael Ngamminlen Haokip was killed in an attack that began around 4.30am. The Kuki CSO Working Committee alleged that the NSCN (IM) was behind the attack.
Two Naga civilians from Ningchou village, near the India-Myanmar border, were also killed at around 9.30am. They were identified as 35-year-old Ngachanso Ningshen and 45-year-old Leishishan Leishadang. In Kangpokpi district, armed men allegedly belonging to Kuki groups operating under the Suspension of Operations arrangement surrounded Makui Asang, a Liangmai Naga village, and opened fire. Village defenders retaliated using licensed firearms and single-barrel guns. Four defenders were killed, including Ajinpou Ringkangmai, who was beheaded, the report said.
In a separate incident in Ukhrul district, 40-year-old Gorkha farmer Sandeep Rai was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at around 6am while driving on the Mahadev-Toloi-Pfutsero road. His killing has raised concerns about the safety of communities not directly involved in the Naga-Kuki conflict.
The report said at least 21 people were killed in Naga-Kuki violence between August 27 and September 26, including 11 Nagas and 10 Kukis. The toll during that period included an unborn child, taking the total number of deaths to 22. Four Nagas were killed in Kangpokpi on August 27, while another four were killed in Kamjong on September 24.
Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh was in New Delhi, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The chief minister said on X that Modi had assured the state government of all possible help to restore peace and normalcy. The chief minister’s office said the Prime Minister acknowledged the state government’s efforts and felt that the situation had improved.
Former chief minister N Biren Singh called for the recovery of illegally held weapons, decisive operations against armed militant groups and stronger security along the India-Myanmar border. The immediate official next steps include efforts by state and central security forces to contain the violence, restore normal movement and enforce the restrictions imposed in affected areas.
