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Fresh ethnic violence erupted along the sensitive Kangpokpi-Senapati border in Manipur early Monday. A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel was injured, multiple houses were destroyed by fire, and National Highway-2 was blocked as tensions between Naga and Kuki communities flared once again.
According to police and official accounts, the incidents began around 2:30–2:40 a.m. when unidentified miscreants set ablaze a residential house belonging to a Kuki family in Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi district.
The pucca house, owned by Paojalun Chongloi, was completely gutted. However, the family escaped unharmed.
Shortly afterward, around 4 a.m., houses in nearby Naga areas were targeted. The locations included areas linked to the Poumai and Liangmai communities, such as Naga Taphou, Lai, and Phuba villages. Reports indicate that one house was burnt and another was damaged or demolished.
The situation escalated later in the morning. Between approximately 9:20 a.m. and 10 a.m., an exchange of fire broke out in the Taphou area while media personnel and security forces were present.
Sub-Inspector (General Duty) Pradeep Singh, 54, of the CRPF’s 36th Battalion, sustained a bullet injury to his left foot, or leg, as per varying accounts. He was evacuated to Senapati District Hospital, where he was reported to be out of danger and receiving treatment.
The officer noted that the gunfire appeared to come from multiple directions, making it difficult to pinpoint the source. No other casualties were confirmed.
Additional security forces were rushed to the area to prevent further escalation. Locals began leaving the vicinity amid fears of renewed clashes.
Protesters, described in some reports as Naga volunteers, blocked NH-2 near Senapati headquarters by burning tyres and placing debris on the road. The blockade disrupted the key Imphal-Dimapur link. A shutdown was also reported at the district headquarters.
The Taphou Kuki Village Authority strongly condemned the arson, calling it “highly deplorable, inhuman and unacceptable.”
It demanded that the district administration and police identify those responsible and take legal action. The authority also issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the perpetrators to come forward and resolve the matter under Kuki customary law.
The authority warned of potential “untoward incidents” if the deadline was ignored, even as it appealed for restraint and peaceful dialogue.
Authorities have registered a case and are investigating the incidents. However, no group has claimed responsibility, and the precise trigger remains unclear.
Some local allegations of attacks on specific villages could not be independently verified. Security remains heightened in the border belt.
Monday’s violence comes against the backdrop of a newer fault line in Manipur’s multi-layered ethnic conflict.
While the primary Meitei-Kuki-Zo strife that began in May 2023 has claimed over 250–260 lives and displaced tens of thousands, tensions between Naga and Kuki communities intensified in 2026.
Key flashpoints included the May 13 ambushes that killed four people, including three church leaders. Other developments included subsequent abductions of civilians from both sides, the recovery of six Naga bodies near Kharam Vaiphei in June, and ongoing blockades.
The National Investigation Agency is probing related cases, with several arrests made.
The border region between Senapati and Kangpokpi has been identified as one of several high-tension zones.
