Rohan Umak
Fresh violence Manipur: A total of three persons were killed and several others were injured on Friday after fresh gunfights erupted in the Ukhrul district of Manipur, adding to the already fragile tensions between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities of the state, the police said. As per initial reports, the first exchange of fire broke out in the early hours at Sinakeithei, a village belonging to the Tangkhul Naga, which killed one person.
In the retaliatory strikes, a second gunfight ensued at around 5:30 am in Mullam village, which houses the Kuki community people. Two armed individuals were killed during this.
Security forces find it difficult to access remote areas
A senior cop from the Litan police station said that initially, the law enforcement teams faced hurdles in reaching the affected areas due to the volatile situation. The Border Security Force (BSF) troops were later deployed, who managed to recover two bodies from the area between Mullam and Shongphel villages.
Officials confirmed that several villagers sustained injuries during the clashes, although the number of the injured remains unclear.
Fresh violence Manipur: Both sides level allegations against each other
The Tangkhul Naga Long community identified one of the deceased as a man aged 29 from the Kamjong district, alleging that village guards were ambushed by armed Kuki cadres during a patrol near Sirarakhong.
Countering the claim, authorities in Mullam village accused the Tangkhul militants of launching an early morning attack on their settlement, alleging that they targeted civilians. The village body added to the allegations by saying that similar attacks had unfolded on April 19 and 21, 2026, terming the situation a ‘grave escalation.’
Meanwhile, the Bungpi-Ihang Defence Committee confirmed that two Kuki volunteers died in the gunfight, claiming that they were residents of Kangpokpi district.
Background of rising tensions
Notably, tensions have been simmering for months in the Ukhrul region, with sporadic clashes and incidents of violence reported since February following a local dispute in Litan. In recent weeks, numerous confrontations have led to the arson of over 50 homes belonging to both the communities. Earlier on April 11, two civilians, including an ex-Army man, were killed in an ambush along National Highway 202 in the same region. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will investigate the case.
