Violence Rocks Manipur's Ukhrul District, Forcing Mass Exodus
Violent clashes erupted in Manipur's Ukhrul district, resulting in the burning of 25 houses and four government quarters, as residents fled in panic. The incident, which began late Sunday night, has intensified tensions between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities, leading to a curfew and heavy security deployment.
Escalation of Clashes and Immediate Aftermath
On Sunday evening around 11:30 PM, miscreants in large numbers started torching houses in Litan Bazar, with police reporting gunshots from automatic rifles that heightened fear among locals. According to officials at Litan police station, a preliminary assessment indicates that two of the damaged houses belonged to members of the Kuki community. Fearing further violence, residents from both communities began abandoning their homes, seen leaving in trucks, private vehicles, and on foot, carrying mattresses, household utensils, and other salvaged valuables.
Security Measures and Official Responses
In response to the unrest, the District Magistrate of Ukhrul imposed a curfew in Litan village on Sunday evening until further orders, citing an apprehension of a breach of peace and risks to human lives and property. To stabilize the situation, heavy fortification was carried out by the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Assam Rifles. Additional forces, including units of the Assam Rifles, CAPF, the 8 Bihar Regiment, and personnel from the 4th Mahar Regiment, were deployed. A team of Manipur Police, led by an Inspector General (Law & Order), assessed the situation and reviewed security arrangements on the ground.
Political Visits and Root Causes
Saikul MLA Kimneo Haokip, who belongs to the Kuki community, and Ukhrul MLA Ram Muiva, a Tangkhul Naga, visited the affected area to monitor the situation. Police stated that the violence was triggered by a drunken brawl on the evening of February 7 at Litan Sareikhong, during which a Tangkhul Naga man identified as Sterling was allegedly assaulted and sustained serious injuries, requiring hospital treatment in Imphal. As clashes intensified on Sunday evening, security forces fired teargas shells to disperse mobs engaged in stone-pelting.
Community Impact and Local Context
Litan is a small commercial town located about 35 km from Imphal, inhabited by both Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities. It serves as a local trading hub for surrounding villages, with residential and market areas closely interlinked, a factor that officials said contributed to the rapid spread of tension. A Tangkhul woman living in Litan Bazar recounted the incident, stating that residents were petrified after hearing the commotion and hid inside their houses as a large group of people, some armed, began dismantling and burning houses. An FIR has been registered, and further investigation is underway, according to police reports.
