Kamjong District’s Population and Settlements: Beyond Broad Generalisations in National Media

In Episode 1918, titled “Complexities and politics as conflict escalates in Manipur with Naga Vs Kuki adding a new dimension,” ThePrint described Kamjong as a district with a “mixed Naga and Kuki population”. The remark, made in a discussion of the evolving conflict in Manipur, raises an important question about how the district’s demographic composition is being characterised.

For readers unfamiliar with Manipur and, in particular, Kamjong district, such a description may be taken at face value. Without adequate geographical, historical and demographic context, it risks creating an impression of a more evenly distributed population than the available settlement records may suggest. It is therefore essential to examine the evidence before accepting narratives that could lend political legitimacy to competing claims over land and territory.

In today’s polarised environment, where social media narratives increasingly find their way into mainstream reporting, journalists must exercise particular care when discussing land, maps, settlement patterns and demography. These are not solely matters of terminology. They can shape public perceptions of territorial belonging, historical presence and political legitimacy.

To begin with, independent research by Dr Sinalei Khayi documents 251 Tangkhul Naga villages across Manipur, including 145 villages in Kamjong district, and an additional 31 Tangkhul villages in Myanmar’s Somra Tract. Drawing on historical gazettes, records of Tangkhul organisations, cultural research and oral accounts, the study examines the geographical distribution and traditional topographical divisions of Tangkhul Naga settlements.

According to Dr Khayi’s research, the 145 Tangkhul Naga villages in Kamjong fall under the Kamo region. Kamo is used as a broad geographical designation for Tangkhul villages in the district. However, when used to refer to a particular group of people, the term has a more specific cultural meaning. The research associates this group with naming conventions such as Mopa, Kopa and Tipa, and discusses cultural affinities with the Khmer/Hmong. The Kangpat-Sorde-Nambashi group is also described as sharing a similar origin. The Kamo topographical division comprises nine ranges.

ALSO READ | Tangkhul Villages: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Distribution and Heritage

Khukok Range — 7 villages

1. Alāng (Ngayophung)
2. Chungka
3. Ramsophung/Khongjal
4. Loushing
5. Loushing Khunthak
6. Phungyar
7. Tusom South

Sambu — 25 villages

1. Apong
2. Chāhong Khullen
3. Chāhong Phalung (hamlet)
4. Chāhong Chingthak (hamlet)
5. Chamu
6. Hango Kaphung (hamlet)
7. Changa
8. Chatric (Khullen, Khunuo)
9. Hangkaw
10. Kashung
11. Khayang
12. Khayang Phungtha (hamlet)
13. Langkhe
14. Lāngli
15. Maku
16. Mapum
17. Madoyah
18. Pushing
19. Roni
20. Rusheah
21. Sahamphung
22. Shingchā
23. Sampui
24. Yedah
25. Zingsui

Raizan — 14 villages

1. Bungpā Khullen
2. Bungpā Khunou
3. Grihāng
4. Huimine Thanā
5. Kangpāt Khullen
6. Kangpāt Khunou
7. Kongkān
8. Meiti
9. Ningchou
10. Ningthi
11. Phange
12. Ramphoi
13. Skipe
14. Z Choro

Lungpha Range — 9 villages

1. Khambi
2. Kumram
3. Mailiang
4. Nongman
5. Patbung
6. Punge
7. Sorathen
8. Sorbung
9. Sorde

Leimarol — 29 villages

1. Wanglee
2. Bungpun
3. Makan
4. Phungchon/Punouram
5. Kangkum
6. Kashung
7. Nambashi Khunou
8. Nambashi Khullen
9. Khonglo
10. Manthouram
11. Nambashi Valley
12. Khunthak
13. Tarong
14. Kasom Khullen
15. Kasom Khunou
16. Lairam Khullen
17. M Reishangphung
18. Lairam Phungka
19. Khoiripok Ato
20. Khoiripok Aze/Yeasom
21. Khamlang
22. K. Ashang Khullen
23. K. Ashang Khullen Ato
24. K. Ashang Khullen Aze
25. Mawai
26. Shangpunram
27. Chongdan
28. Hongbei (hamlet)
29. Kangoi

ALSO READ | The Subtle Omission of Litan’s Feb 7–9 Violence and Arson That Ignited the Naga-Kuki Conflict; Debunking the Manufactured “Drunken Brawl” Narrative

Shangpun Long — 18 villages

1. Irong Kongleiram
2. Maryland
3. Mumlo Ringpam
4. K. Leihaoram
5. Lungthar
6. Heinganglok
7. Sotun/Somdhar
8. Sadak-khunbi
9. Irong Ato
10. K Somrei
11. Nambashi Horton
12. Komlaching
13. Shungriphai/Soraland
14. Keihao
15. Chakhama
16. Kharan
17. Tangkhul Khullen
18. Sochanram

Tomching Range — 17 villages

1. Laikoiching
2. Happyland
3. Risophung
4. Leishiphung
5. Island
6. Sopleng/Moirangpan
7. New Salem
8. Silent/Honkhuiphung
9. Thangchingpokpi
10. Ngarumphung
11. New Canaan
12. Muirei
13. Wunghon
14. Mayophung
15. Leiyaram
16. South Luoshing
17. Tongkoi/Colley

Mapithel Range — 17 villages

1. Lungpha
2. Shingta
3. Marou
4. Shingkap
5. T Hundung
6. T Hundung Khunou
7. Nongdam
8. Chadong
9. Ramrei
10. Ramrei Aze
11. Riha
12. Thoyee
13. Louphong
14. Bohoram
15. Itham
16. Manthou
17. Chingshou

Nongmaiching Range — 9 villages

1. Kaprang
2. Saman
3. Lishamlok
4. Poirou
5. Lembakhul
6. Ngaranphung
7. N. Kachumram
8. Tamaram
9. T Saram

The significance of these records becomes clearer when viewed against the official administrative figures. According to the Kamjong district administration’s website (https://kamjong.nic.in/), the district has 123 villages across its four subdivisions: Kamjong, Phungyar, Sahamphung and Kasom Khullen.

The number and distribution of Kuki villages in the district also warrant closer scrutiny. The list available for this editorial identifies 13 Kuki villages, although the number may be slightly higher and remains subject to verification.

Kuki villages in Kamjong district (13 listed):

1. Aishi
2. Chassad
3. Khoikai
4. Kultuk
5. Molvailup
6. Phaikok
7. Phaimol
8. Kachouphung K (deserted)
9. Lanchah
10. Maokot
11. Thawai (Kuki)
12. Lakhan
13. Gambal

Some are reportedly deserted, making it important to establish the current habitation status and population of each settlement through reliable administrative records.

ALSO READ | The Manipur Crisis and the Left Media’s Blind Spot

Ultimately, Kamjong’s demographic character cannot be established through sweeping assertions, but through verifiable records, population data and historical context. A loose description of Kamjong’s population in national media is not a minor error. In a conflict where land and identity are fiercely contested, such claims can be seized upon by radical groups to push their own narratives and justify political demands. That is precisely why journalists must check the facts before putting such characterisations into circulation.

Dr Sinalei Khayi’s independent research documents 145 Tangkhul Naga villages in Kamjong, while the list available for this editorial identifies 13 Kuki villages, some reportedly deserted. These figures are not, by themselves, a census of the district’s population, and the classifications, of course, require verification.