Imphal, April 21: Fresh tensions gripped Manipur on Tuesday as armed confrontation between Naga and Kuki groups was reported from T. Khullen village in Senapati district, even as a shutdown paralysed normal life across several hill and valley areas.
Sources said firing broke out amid heightened tensions in the area, triggering panic among residents.
The incident comes against the backdrop of escalating strain between the two communities following recent killings along the Imphal–Ukhrul road, where two Naga civilians were ambushed. The attack sparked widespread outrage and shutdown calls across Naga-inhabited areas.
Tensions have been building over the past few days, with civil society organisations and armed groups exchanging strong statements and accusations.
Some reports suggest that confrontations in parts of the Senapati district were linked to attempts to enforce shutdowns and road blockades called by the United Naga Council in protest against the ambush by suspected Kuki militants.
As of now, there is no official confirmation of casualties or the scale of the exchange of fire. Security forces have been rushed to the area, but information from the ground remains limited and fluid.
The latest incident underscores the fragile security situation in Manipur, where ethnic tensions between Naga and Kuki groups—rooted in long-standing territorial and political disputes—have periodically flared into violence.
Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement. Further details are awaited.
Meanwhile, normal life came to a standstill across the state on Tuesday following shutdown calls by different organisations protesting recent killings in both the valley and hill districts.
Security sources said educational institutions, markets and public transport remained shut across the five Meitei-dominated valley districts, as well as in Naga-inhabited areas of Ukhrul and Senapati.
On Monday night, a seven-km-long torch rally was taken out from Mayai Lambi to Keishamthong in Imphal West district. The protest, largely attended by women, later turned violent, with clashes reported between demonstrators and security forces.
In a separate development, tension flared in Thoubal district as protests erupted during Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s visit to inaugurate a newly constructed BDO office at Wangjing.
According to reports, the Chief Minister arrived by helicopter and landed at an Assam Rifles camp before proceeding to the venue under tight security. Protesters blocked roads from Thoubal, Khongjom and Wangjing in an attempt to stop the visit.
The situation turned chaotic near Wangjing Tekcham Leikai, where security personnel fired tear gas shells and reportedly opened fire to disperse the crowd.
The Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA) alleged that the unrest was triggered by repeated provocation and attempts to remove barricades set up by shutdown volunteers. It also claimed property damage and injuries, though no official figures were available.
Security forces have since been deployed in and around T. Khullen and along National Highway-2 to restore order. Officials said the situation has improved, but tension continues to prevail.
Also Read: Assam: Mob fury in Digboi’s Powai after a man is run over by a truck
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