Imphal, October 18: Imphal, Oct 18: At least 15 houses belonging to the Kuki community were burnt at Chassad village in Manipur’s Kamjong district following violence on Saturday that left one person dead and several others injured, heightening tensions along the Indo-Myanmar border.
Five Kuki men sustained bullet injuries in the incident, one of whom, identified as Seikhohao Haokip, later succumbed to his injuries. Four others were injured.
The violence has raised fresh security concerns in the border region, with civilians reportedly taking shelter at a nearby Army camp. Women and children were also said to be spending nights in forests amid fears for their safety.
The developments followed two separate incidents of violence at Chassad village and Kamjong district headquarters on October 17, with rival organisations issuing conflicting accounts of the attacks.
The Eastern Command of the Naga Village Guard alleged that armed Kuki groups had attacked Tangkhul Naga civilians at Kamjong district headquarters at around 2.30 pm on October 17.
In a press statement issued the same day, the organisation claimed that the alleged attackers included members of the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) and the Village Volunteers of Eastern Zone (VVEZ), based in Chassad.
The organisation identified the three injured Tangkhul Naga civilians as T. Chithung of Ningchou, S. Malung of Bungpa Khullen and M. Shithung of Bungpa Khullen.
All three reportedly sustained gunshot injuries and were stabilised at Kamjong Hospital. The organisation described them as civilian defence volunteers.
According to the statement, heavy firing towards residential areas triggered panic among Tangkhul Naga residents, prompting Naga civilian defence guards to retaliate against the advancing armed men.
The Naga Village Guard also alleged that personnel of the 11 Assam Rifles stationed at Chassad assisted the attackers and advanced towards Kamjong in two Casspir vehicles.
It further claimed that the personnel opened fire and launched stun bombs into civilian areas, damaging houses and other property. These allegations could not be independently verified.
Separately, a joint column of Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Kamjong Police was deployed in the affected area to bring the situation under control, according to an official press note issued on October 17.
Meanwhile, Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen strongly condemned the violence at Chassad, describing the killing, injuries and burning of houses as an intolerable crime.
“Terrorising peaceful villagers and driving families with young children out into the dead of night is utterly unconscionable,” she said.
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.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), based in Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district, has also condemned the incident at Chassad.
The organisation alleged that armed Tangkhul militants attacked civilians in the village and urged the Centre to deploy additional security forces to protect vulnerable settlements.