Manipur clash bid thwarted by security forces: Police
Ethnic conflict-scarred Manipur came close to a ‘communal clash’ on Saturday (July 11, 2026) when a mob, allegedly from the Kuki-dominated hilly Kangpokpi district, tried
Ethnic conflict-scarred Manipur came close to a ‘communal clash’ on Saturday (July 11, 2026) when a mob, allegedly from the Kuki-dominated hilly Kangpokpi district, tried to descend on a village with largely abandoned houses in the Meitei-majority Imphal West district. A combined team of security forces thwarted a bid by about 600 individuals to advance towards the Kanto Sabal area, which is on the “buffer zone” between Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts, the Manipur Police said. A crowd of “600 to 700” attempted to target “an illegal block” set up by “another community”, the Indian Army said in a separate statement. “The security forces intervened promptly and prevented a potential communal clash,” the police posted on social media platform X, adding that an attempt by the miscreants to torch abandoned houses was swiftly contained.
Locals claimed the mob succeeded in burning down at least three abandoned houses before the security forces pushed its members back. Meitei and Naga residents from the Imphal Valley attempted to go to the site, but security forces allegedly prevented them from advancing by using force. This was the first instance of the ethnic conflict in Manipur, which shifted to the hills between the Kukis and the Nagas after an alleged drunken brawl in February, threatening to singe the Imphal Valley after more than four months. The conflict started in May 2023 between the Kuki-Zo and the Meiteis. Justice promised Earlier, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said the State government was taking all necessary steps to ensure justice for the families of the six Liangmai Nagas who were abducted and killed.
The six were from Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district. Members of the victims’ families identified five persons allegedly involved in the incident, and two suspects were arrested on Friday (July 10, 2026), Mr. Singh told journalists in State capital Imphal. “It is the responsibility of the government and law enforcement agencies to arrest all those involved. Necessary instructions have been issued in this regard,” he said. The chain of violence in Manipur began on May 13, when unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed three church leaders in Kangpokpi district. Hours later, 28 Kukis and 20 Nagas, including 18 from Leilon Vaiphei, were abducted from different parts of the State. On May 15, Kukis and Nagas released 14 members of each other’s communities.
The Nagas released the remaining 14 Kukis on June 9. The following day, security forces recovered the mutilated bodies of the six missing Nagas from Kangpokpi district. The recovery of the bodies triggered violence in the Naga-dominated Senapati district, with Naga and Meitei organisations seeking vengeance from the killers of the Naga hostages.
The BriefWire