Early Tuesday morning, violence erupted along the IT Road in Kangpokpi district, with reports of attacks and gunfire targeting villages of the Liangmei Naga community. The situation remains tense as local residents grapple with the implications of this unrest on their safety and daily lives.
The latest violence comes amid continuing tension and reported attacks and counter-attacks between Kuki and Naga villages along the IT Road. A road blockade and exchange of gunfire were also reported in the area during the early morning hours. The same attackers then allegedly moved towards the main Makui Naga Village, where firing continued towards the village, according to the statement issued by the Makui Village Authority on Tuesday.
The authority alleged that several houses were burnt, along with food grains, household belongings and other properties. One person reportedly sustained injuries during the incident. The authority alleged that the attackers attempted to set fire to houses in the main Makui village and cause large-scale casualties. The Makui Village Authority described the alleged continued attacks as an attempt to drive Liangmei Nagas out of the IT Road area and to take control of what it termed their ancestral land. It strongly condemned the incidents. The allegations contained in the village authority’s statement could not be independently verified immediately. IT Road: Remote and Sparsely Populated The IT Road passes through one of the most remote and sparsely populated parts of Manipur. The area is inhabited by Kuki, Naga and Nepali communities, with settlements scattered across the hilly terrain. The region has witnessed recurring tensions and cycles of attack and counter-attack between Kuki and Naga villages, with road blockades and armed confrontations periodically affecting movement. The latest incident has renewed concerns over the security of communities living along the IT Road, particularly amid the continuing cycle of violence. Further details on the number of houses damaged, casualties, and the condition of the injured person were awaited.
Armed men allegedly attacked Pipuram Naga Village at around 4 am, opened fire, and subsequently set houses on fire, according to the Makui Village Authority. Makui Authority Condemns Attack In a press statement issued on September 1, the Makui Village Authority strongly condemned what it described as an attack by Kuki militants on Pipuram and Makui villages. It also referred to an earlier incident on August 27, claiming that four villagers from Makui were killed in a pre-planned ambush between Makui Ashang Village and Thanambam Village. The authority said the latest incident, coming days after the August 27 killings, had further heightened fears among residents.
