Escalating Violence in Manipur: Attacks on Liangmei Naga Community
Violence Erupts in Kangpokpi District
Ongoing road blockade at IT road as violence escalated on Tuesday in Manipur's Kangpokpi (Photo: AT)
Imphal, Sept 1: Following the tragic deaths of three villagers along the remote IT Road in Manipur, violence persisted in the Kangpokpi district on Tuesday morning. Armed individuals reportedly targeted villages of the Liangmei Naga community, leading to gunfire.
As per the Makui Village Authority, the assault on Pipuram Naga Village occurred around 4 AM, where attackers opened fire and subsequently set homes ablaze.
The assailants then allegedly advanced towards the main Makui Naga Village, where the shooting continued, according to a statement from the village authority. One individual was reported injured during these attacks.
Details regarding the extent of property damage, the number of casualties, and the condition of the injured person are still pending.
This latest outbreak of violence is part of ongoing tensions and reported skirmishes between Kuki and Naga communities along the IT Road.
Early morning reports also indicated a road blockade and exchanges of gunfire in the vicinity.
On Monday, three villagers lost their lives, and two others, including a woman, were injured by gunfire in an attack on N Teikhang Kuki village in the same district.
In a press release on Tuesday, the Makui Village Authority condemned the assault, attributing it to Kuki militants targeting Pipuram and Makui villages.
The authority claimed that these persistent attacks aim to displace the Liangmei Nagas from the IT Road region and seize what they consider their ancestral lands, expressing strong disapproval of the incidents.
However, the claims made in the village authority's statement could not be independently verified at this time.
The IT Road traverses one of the most isolated and sparsely populated areas of Manipur, home to Kuki, Naga, and Nepali communities, with settlements scattered across the hilly landscape.
This region has experienced ongoing tensions, marked by cycles of violence and retaliation between Kuki and Naga villages, with road blockades and armed confrontations frequently disrupting movement.