At least 25 more houses were set on fire in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Wednesday, a day after 10 homes were allegedly torched and a villager was injured along the Imphal-Tamenglong road, police said.
The latest arson was reported in Tiporam village. Residents said five of the 25 houses belonged to members of the Nepali community. The villagers had earlier been evacuated to Makui, around 15 km from Tiporam, following violence in the area.
A resident of Tiporam, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the houses were set ablaze on Wednesday before those responsible left the area.
The fresh incident came after an attack on Teikhang Kuki village on Monday. According to police, three people, including two women, were killed and four others were injured. The attack was followed by heavy gunfire that continued until around 12.30 pm.
On Tuesday, at least 10 houses were reportedly burned in the area. An excavator, a Gypsy, a pickup truck and a truck were also damaged during the violence.
Police identified the injured man as 49-year-old N Luithuibou, who suffered bullet wounds to his right abdomen and hand. Local residents said he is a church pastor.
The situation remained tense as residents of Tiporam, who had been evacuated to Makui, reportedly returned to their village on Tuesday. They alleged that they came under fire after returning.
Locals also claimed that security forces had been informed about the houses being set on fire but did not take immediate action. These allegations have not been independently verified, and security forces and authorities have not yet commented on the claims.
The latest violence adds to the continuing tension in Manipur, where ethnic clashes that began in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki communities have affected people across the state. The conflict has since involved several other communities.
At least 260 people have been killed and around 60,000 displaced since the clashes began. The Meitei community, which is largely Hindu, mainly lives in the Imphal Valley, while the predominantly Christian Kuki-Zo community largely resides in the hill areas.
A new state government was formed in February after nearly a year of President’s Rule. It includes representatives from the three major communities, with authorities seeking to maintain ethnic balance and restore stability.
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