Kangpokpi Naga villages faced fresh violence along the Imphal–Tamenglong (IT) Road in Manipur after armed attackers reportedly targeted several Liangmai Naga settlements early on September 1. Houses were set ablaze, firing continued for hours and at least one villager was injured, according to police. The attacks came less than a day after three Kuki civilians were killed in a separate incident in the same district, raising fears of retaliation. Residents remain anxious as security arrangements face renewed scrutiny again locally.
Kangpokpi Naga villages targeted early Tuesday
The attacks began around 4 a.m. on Tuesday in Tapon Khullen, Tapon Khunou and Makui Pipuram, according to Kangpokpi police. The settlements lie along the IT Road, linking Naga-inhabited areas of Kangpokpi with Tamenglong.
Police said armed individuals opened fire in the area and several houses were burned. Reports differed on the scale of damage. Police initially said at least 10 houses were set ablaze, while local reports put the number at up to 30, with vehicles and other property also damaged.
A church pastor, identified in reports as Luithuibou Newmai, sustained bullet injuries during the attack. Another local account also reported an injured villager. CRPF and its CoBRA unit, along with Manipur Police, were reported to have reached the area and launched search operations.
Reports of attacks spread to more settlements
The reported violence was not limited to the three Kangpokpi Naga villages initially identified by police. The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long said four Kangpokpi Naga villages were affected, naming Makui Pipuram, Lower Tapon, Middle Tapon and Upper Tapon. Other local reports also referred to Makui Khunjao and Thonglang Akutpa.
The Makui Village Authority alleged that armed Kuki militants attacked Pipuram, opened indiscriminate fire and then set houses and other properties on fire. It further alleged that the attackers moved towards the main Makui Naga village, where firing continued. These allegations have not been independently verified, and no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The attacks have heightened concern among residents already facing repeated security threats.
Violence follows August 27 ambush
The latest attacks followed a deadly ambush on August 27, when four Liangmai Naga civilians were killed after their vehicle was attacked between Makui Ashang and Thanamba Naga along the IT Road. Another person was injured in that incident, according to reports.
The killings triggered protests and a shutdown in Naga-inhabited areas. Naga organisations have raised concerns about civilian safety on the remote road.
On August 31, violence again erupted in Kangpokpi when three Kuki villagers, including two women, were killed in an attack on Teikhang village. Four others were reportedly injured. The sequence has intensified fears of retaliatory assaults.
Fresh arson adds to fears
The situation worsened further on September 2, when at least 25 more houses were reportedly set ablaze in Tiporam village under Chalwa police station, according to police and residents. Five of the houses were said by a resident to belong to members of the Nepali community.
Residents said Tiporam villagers had earlier been evacuated to Makui, around 15 kilometres away, following the violence. They reportedly returned but later sought shelter again after fresh firing. The latest arson has deepened insecurity around the IT Road.
For Kangpokpi Naga villages, repeated attacks have raised concerns about displacement, property loss and civilian protection. Community organisations have called for stronger security deployment, relief and rehabilitation for affected families, while also demanding investigations into the attacks.
Security and peace remain key concerns
The recent incidents underline the fragile security situation in parts of Kangpokpi, where ethnic tensions have persisted since the wider Manipur conflict began in 2023. The IT Road has emerged as a particularly sensitive corridor because it connects remote settlements and has witnessed deadly ambushes and armed clashes.
Authorities face the challenge of preventing escalation while protecting civilians regardless of community. Investigations, security presence and humanitarian assistance will be vital to prevent displacement and restore confidence.
For people in Kangpokpi Naga villages, safety remains the immediate priority. With fresh arson reported even after earlier attacks, a rapid and impartial response from security agencies and the administration will be crucial to contain the violence and prevent another cycle of retaliation.
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