Kangpokpi IT Road firing has triggered fresh concern in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district after gunfire and an alleged mortar attack were reported from the Chaljang-Lhouthang-Twilang belt on Tuesday, September 1. Kuki civil society organisations and village authorities alleged that armed groups targeted civilian settlements, while also questioning the effectiveness of security arrangements in the area. The claims come a day after three Kuki civilians, including two women, were killed in an attack on N. Teikhang village.
Fresh Kangpokpi IT Road firing reported
According to the Chaljang Village Authority, the village came under heavy attack at around 8.05 am on Tuesday. The authority alleged that bombs were fired towards the settlement, creating panic among residents. It accused a Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM group and its alleged proxy outfit, ZUF-K, of carrying out the attack. These allegations have not been independently verified.
The Twilang Area Kuki CSO Coordinating Committee separately reported a series of attacks between around 4.40 am and 8.45 am. It said firing was reported from areas including Tapon, Theparam and Makui, with Lhouthang and Chaljang also coming under attack.
The committee alleged that three heavy mortar bombs were fired towards Chaljang. According to its account, two of the bombs exploded while another failed to detonate. It also said a 25-year-old civilian, Lamkhojang of Lhouthang, was injured in the firing.
Kuki groups question security response
The fresh Kangpokpi IT Road firing has also led to questions over the deployment and conduct of security forces in the sensitive corridor.
The Chaljang Village Authority alleged that security personnel stationed in the area failed to intervene effectively during the attack. It demanded the removal of the central security force unit stationed at Makui and sought an immediate and impartial investigation.
The Twilang Area Kuki CSO Coordinating Committee also raised concerns about several incidents involving security arrangements. These included an alleged denial of passage to an ambulance carrying deceased and injured people at Lasan, alleged firing at village volunteers, an incident at Langka and the reported mortar attack on Chaljang.
The allegations come amid heightened tension along the IT Road, where communities have reported repeated attacks and armed confrontations in recent days.
Violence follows Teikhang village killings
The latest incident occurred less than 24 hours after deadly violence at N. Teikhang village on August 31.
Police said three villagers were killed and four others injured after armed assailants allegedly opened fire at the Kuki-inhabited village along the IT Road. The deceased were identified as Tingneichin Lhouvum, 40, Hoineineng Lhoujem, 21, and Lamtinthang Lhoujem, 36. Several houses were also reportedly set ablaze.
The Twilang Area Kuki CSO Working Committee alleged that around 50 heavily armed cadres linked to NSCN-IM and ZUF-K were behind the attack. Police, however, said investigations were continuing, and the allegations regarding the attackers had not been independently established.
The killings prompted Kuki civil society organisations to demand stronger security and an impartial probe. The Committee on Tribal Unity also announced a 24-hour shutdown along NH-2 from September 1 to September 2, while exempting essential services.
Kuki-Zo volunteers call for restraint
The Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers of Twilang Lhang also alleged that firing began around 4.50 am from the direction of Tapon village and Chawangkining. The group said the attacks caused panic among residents and claimed its personnel responded to protect civilians and settlements.
The volunteers warned that further attacks, intimidation or deliberate provocation against Kuki-Zo civilians would not be tolerated. At the same time, they appealed to authorities to take immediate steps to protect vulnerable residents and prevent further escalation.
The Twilang Area Kuki CSO Coordinating Committee also called for restraint from all sides and urged authorities to intervene impartially.
IT Road remains a sensitive corridor
The developments have added to growing security concerns along Manipur’s IT Road, a strategically important route connecting areas of Kangpokpi and Tamenglong. The corridor has witnessed renewed Naga-Kuki tensions in recent days.
On August 27, four Naga civilians were killed and another person was injured in an alleged ambush along the IT Road, according to officials and local reports. The incident further intensified tensions in the region.
On September 1, several Liangmai Naga villages along the same corridor also reported attacks, with houses damaged or burnt and a village pastor injured, according to local authorities and media reports. The identity of the attackers was disputed and had not been independently confirmed.
With fresh Kangpokpi IT Road firing now being reported from multiple locations, pressure is mounting on security agencies and the administration to prevent further attacks. Kuki organisations have called for impartial investigations, stronger protection for civilians and accountability for those responsible. The immediate priority remains preventing retaliatory violence and ensuring that residents in vulnerable settlements can live and travel safely.