Security forces carried out house-to-house searches across Taphou in Manipur’s Senapati district on Tuesday, a day after arson attacks and an exchange of fire left a CRPF sub-inspector injured and raised fears of a wider flare-up along the Kangpokpi-Senapati border.
Personnel from the CRPF’s CoBRA unit, working with district police, began search operations in Taphou Liangmai, Taphou Kuki and adjoining localities from the early hours of the day.
Female commandos searched inside homes, while male personnel secured the perimeter and surrounding areas, officials said. No arrests were made, and residents did not resist the searches.
No fresh violence was reported in Taphou on Tuesday. However, security forces maintained a heavy presence in the area to prevent any further escalation.
The operation followed a tense and violent Monday.
A house belonging to Paojalun Chongloi in Taphou Kuki village was set on fire around 2:30 am. The fire gutted the structure along with the family’s belongings and documents. The family escaped unhurt.
Hours later, a house was torched in the neighbouring Naga Taphou (Liangmai) area, in what local sources described as a suspected retaliatory attack.
Around 9:20 am, an exchange of fire broke out between armed groups from the two sides. CRPF Sub-Inspector Pradeep Singh of the 36th Battalion was hit in the left foot and evacuated to Senapati District Hospital. He was later reported out of danger.
Local sources said the confrontation began with licensed firearms before escalating. Some residents alleged that more sophisticated weapons were brought in from the Senapati side — a claim that could not be independently verified.
At least four more houses in Taphou Kuki were reportedly burned as villagers retreated.
The unrest also disrupted traffic on National Highway-2, the main link between Manipur, Nagaland and Assam, and prompted a shutdown at Senapati district headquarters.
The Taphou Kuki Village Authority condemned the arson as “highly deplorable, inhuman and unacceptable” and issued a 24-hour ultimatum for those responsible to come forward and resolve the matter under Kuki customary law. It warned of an “untoward incident” if they did not.
The authority also called on the district administration and police to investigate the incidents and identify those responsible. It appealed to all communities to exercise restraint.
The clashes are the latest flashpoint in Manipur’s prolonged ethnic conflict, which has claimed more than 260 lives and displaced thousands since fighting between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities began in May 2023. The conflict has since also drawn in tensions involving Naga communities in the hills.
Two CoBRA battalions, comprising roughly 2,000 commandos, were moved to the state earlier this year to seize illegal weapons, demolish bunkers and support area-domination operations in the state’s forested terrain.
