Fresh violence broke out in Manipur’s Churachandpur district late on Sunday night, September 14, after unidentified miscreants attacked and set fire to the residences of several prominent Kuki-Zo leaders, sparking renewed fear and unrest in the already volatile region. According to reports, the residence of Calvin, External Secretary of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), was among the first to be set ablaze. Witnesses said flames engulfed the property within minutes, forcing nearby residents to flee their homes in panic. Another house belonging to a Suspension of Operations (SoO) leader was also torched in the night’s violence, deepening concerns about targeted attacks on tribal leadership.
The home of Ginza Vualzong, Spokesperson of both the Kuki-Zo Coordination Committee (KZC) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), was also singled out by miscreants. However, swift intervention by local youths and community leaders prevented the property from being set on fire. Soon after, army personnel reached the site, securing the house and assuring protection for Vualzong and his family.
The violence came just hours after Churachandpur witnessed large-scale protests over the arrest of two individuals accused of vandalism and damaging government property on September 12. The timing of the unrest is significant, as it occurred barely days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Manipur, adding a layer of political sensitivity to the unfolding crisis.
