Fresh violence and arson have gripped Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, where three houses belonging to Kuki residents were allegedly set ablaze in Kailenjang village amid reports of gunfire. Security officials confirmed that three houses were torched in Kailenjang on Wednesday, October 7. Residents of neighbouring villages reported hearing gunfire in and around Kailenjang at around 2pm, raising fears of another armed confrontation in the violence-hit area. Indian forces personnel were deployed to monitor the situation, while the reported firing was being verified. 

Two platoons of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been stationed in the area, with one deployed in Kailenjang and another in a village immediately below it. According to reports, CRPF personnel were present when armed individuals allegedly set the three houses on fire. The circumstances in which the arson took place despite the security deployment remained unclear.The incident has further heightened fears for the safety of Kuki residents and displaced families whose homes and villages have been affected by the prolonged conflict in Manipur.

Kailenjang, located around 10 kilometres west of Senapati district headquarters in the hills above Taphou village, has remained largely deserted since a deadly attack on September 26. In that attack, unidentified gunmen opened fire at the residence of the village chief, killing two civilians on the spot and injuring two others. One of the injured later succumbed to his wounds, taking the death toll to three.

The attack forced residents to flee the area amid growing security fears and underscored the continuing vulnerability of civilians in conflict-affected villages.The latest torching of Kuki homes has raised fresh concerns over the security of abandoned properties and displaced residents, as violence continues to threaten fragile peace in parts of Manipur. Officials suspect the possible involvement of armed elements in Wednesday’s arson, although the allegation has not been independently established.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)