Fresh tension gripped parts of Manipur’s Ukhrul district after several houses were set on fire late Sunday night, raising fears of renewed ethnic violence in the hill district. Officials said the incidents took place in Litan Sareikhong village and nearby areas, where clashes between members of different tribal communities had already created a tense situation over the past two days.
According to local administration officials, unrest began on Sunday evening after members of two tribal groups were involved in heavy stone-pelting incidents in and around Litan Sareikhong. The clashes quickly escalated, forcing authorities to step in and impose prohibitory orders to prevent gatherings and further confrontation. Security personnel were deployed in the affected areas to control the situation and monitor movements.
Despite the preventive measures, the situation worsened around midnight when several houses belonging to members of the Tangkhul Naga community were reportedly set on fire. Officials said the attack was allegedly carried out by armed militants suspected to be associated with Kuki groups. At the same time, reports also indicated that a few houses belonging to members of the Kuki community were burnt in nearby locations, suggesting retaliatory incidents during the night.
Videos that later surfaced on social media showed scenes of houses and vehicles burning while armed individuals, some reportedly dressed in camouflage uniforms, were seen firing rounds into the air. Authorities have not officially confirmed the identity of the attackers shown in the videos but said investigations are underway to verify the footage and identify those involved.
The district administration said tension had already been building since Saturday night after a member of the Tangkhul community was allegedly assaulted by a group of individuals at Litan village. The incident triggered anger among residents and led to protests, which later turned into confrontations between members of the communities. Officials believe that the earlier assault incident contributed to the rapid escalation of violence on Sunday night.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the Ukhrul district administration imposed strict restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The order prohibits the movement of individuals outside their homes and bans any activity that may disturb law and order within the notified area. The restrictions came into force from 7 pm on February 8 and will remain in place until further orders. Government officials, emergency services, and security personnel have been exempted from the restrictions.
