Suspected militants allegedly set fire to several houses and vehicles in Litan Sareikhong and its neighbouring areas of Ukhrul district in Manipur during the midnight hours on Monday. According to officials, the affected areas have remained tense since Saturday night after a member of the Tangkhul community was allegedly assaulted by seven to eight persons at Litan village, triggering fresh unrest.
Thereafter, two tribal groups were involved in intense stone-pelting incidents, prompting the administration to impose prohibitory orders to prevent further escalation. As per reports, the houses belonged to members of the Tangkhul Naga community. A few houses belonging to the Kuki community were also reportedly set ablaze in nearby areas. Notably, Tangkhuls are the largest Naga tribe in Manipur, while Litan Sareikhong is a Kuki-dominated village. Videos of the arson have surfaced on social media, showing militants wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying sophisticated weapons, firing multiple rounds into the air in the Litan area.
Sources said additional security forces have been deployed on routes leading to Litan to maintain law and order, prevent further disturbances, and restrict the movement of suspicious persons. According to reports, there was a strong apprehension of a breach of peace and public tranquillity in Litan village between members of the Tangkhul and Kuki communities. The Ukhrul district administration, while invoking Sub-Section 1 of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, ordered a complete prohibition on the movement of individuals outside their residences, along with any activity that could disturb law and order in the scheduled area, from 7 pm on February 8, 2026, until further orders.
