Manipur's fragile peace shattered again on Friday night. At least nine people were killed and around 14 houses belonging to Naga and Kuki communities set ablaze in a 24-hour spiral of violence across hill districts, even as Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh was in New Delhi meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who assured all possible assistance.
The trigger was the alleged arbitrary arrest of Chassad Village Volunteers, leading to local women attempting to disrupt a joint operation by Manipur Police, IRB and BSF to dismantle illegal bunkers at Chassad. Unknown assailants opened fire on security forces, prompting retaliation.
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From there, violence spread. At Chassad police station, gunfire continued from 5 am. A 23-year-old, Michael Ngamminlen Haokip, was allegedly shot dead by Naga rebels. In Kamjong, two Naga village guards were killed at Ningchou Chingdong, 17 km from Chassad, allegedly by armed groups operating across the border. At Makui village, three Naga guards were killed in an attack by a Kuki armed group. In Senapati and Kangpokpi, ambushes by unidentified gunmen killed commuters, including Sandeep Rai, 30, on NH-2 nea Konjang and Machungwangbou, 35, near Makui.
The ethnic faultlines have widened beyond Meitei-Kuki to Kuki-Naga, with Naga groups asserting control over hill areas. Allegations of cross-border involvement remain unverified but reflect the region's porosity.
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In Delhi, Khemchand briefed Modi on restoration of normalcy, resumption of Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati buses and movement of goods trucks on NH-37 and NH-2, and sought upgrade of RIMS Imphal to AIIMS status. The PM acknowledged efforts and assured help.Assurances, however, ring hollow on the ground where bunkers, village volunteers and mistrust rule. Manipur needs more than logistical restoration; it needs political dialogue, disarmament, and a credible neutral security presence. Without it, every operation becomes a trigger for retribution.
Tags: #ManipurViolence #NagaKuki #Chassad #Kamjong #KhemchandSingh #PMModi #Northeast #EthnicConflict #ManipurPolice #PeaceInManipur