Kuki houses burnt down, villager gunned down in Manipur's Kamjong district

At least 15 houses of Kuki families were set on fire in a hill village in Manipur's Kamjong district, forcing a large number of civilians to flee and take shelter in forest areas and a nearby Army camp, officials said on Sunday. Earlier during the day, a Kuki civilian was reportedly killed, and four others sustained bullet injuries when suspected militants attacked the village.

In a statement, the police said a joint column of the Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force, and Kamjong Police had been deployed in the affected area to bring the situation under control.

According to reports, a suspected militant attack on Chassad village late on Saturday night led to the houses being set on fire.

Cabinet Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the violence in Chassad, news agency PTI said. She called the burning of houses an intolerable crime, while expressing grief over the death of the Kuki civilian and concern for the injured village leaders and displaced families.

Kipgen said she had instructed the district administration, state police, and security forces to maintain round-the-clock vigilance, protect civilian lives and property, and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.

In a separate incident at the Kamjong district headquarters on Saturday night, three Tangkhul Naga civilians sustained bullet injuries when rival armed groups belonging to another community attacked the village.