At least nine people were killed and around 14 houses set ablaze as fresh violence swept through Manipur’s hill districts over 24 hours starting Friday night. The flare-up came even as Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where the Prime Minister assured the state of all possible help to restore peace and normalcy.

Violence began at Chassad village

The trouble started on Friday night at Chassad village in Kamjong district, where Domkhonei Touthang, a 42-year-old Kuki woman, was killed in what police described as an exchange of fire between armed groups and security forces. A joint team of Manipur Police, India Reserve Battalion and Border Security Force personnel was dismantling alleged illegal bunkers when local women tried to disrupt the drive and unidentified gunmen opened fire, prompting retaliation.

Later that night, unidentified miscreants torched around 14 houses belonging to the Naga and Kuki communities, and gunfire broke out between armed groups and security forces. Local sources linked the violence around 9.35 pm to a protest against the alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of Chassad Village Volunteers, while the Kuki Women Union claimed a 23-year-old man, Michael Ngamminlen Haokip, was shot dead at Chassad, allegedly by Naga rebels.

Attacks continued through Saturday

The violence resumed on Saturday morning when unidentified assailants allegedly attempted to set fire to the Chassad police station. Gunfire broke out around 5 am and continued till 7 am, after which the district magistrate imposed prohibitory restrictions within a 400-metre radius of the police station.

In Kamjong district, two Naga village guards from Ningchou village — Ngachanso Ningshen, 30, and Leishishan Hungyo, 50 — were killed around 9.30 am at Ningchou Chingdong village, about 17 km southeast of Chassad. Official sources said armed groups operating from across the border may have been involved, though there was no official confirmation.

Earlier that morning, three Naga village guards were reportedly killed in an attack at Makui village, allegedly by a Kuki armed group. Villagers alleged one of them, Ajinpou Ringkangmai, was beheaded, with images circulating on social media. Security forces could not reach the site as firing was continuing.

A Naga village volunteer was also killed and two others injured in an ambush allegedly by suspected Kuki militants at Tapon village in Kangpokpi district around 6 am, while commuter Sandeep Rai, 30, was killed in an ambush by unidentified armed miscreants along National Highway 202 near Konjang village in Ukhrul district around 5.30 am.

CM meets PM Modi in Delhi

In New Delhi, Chief Minister Khemchand briefed the Prime Minister on the state government’s initiatives to restore normalcy, including the resumption of Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus services and the movement of goods trucks on NH-37 (Imphal-Silchar) and NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur). He also sought the upgrade of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal to the status of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Modi acknowledged the government’s efforts and assured all possible assistance.