Suspected militants torched at least 15 houses belonging to the Kuki community in Manipur’s Kamjong district late on Saturday, driving scores of residents from their homes and forcing them to seek refuge in nearby forest areas and an Army camp, officials said on Sunday.
The attack on Chassad village came hours after a Kuki civilian was killed and four others were injured in a shooting by suspected militants earlier in the day, officials said.
In a statement, police said a joint column of the Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force and Kamjong Police had been deployed in the affected area to bring the situation under control.
Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the violence in Chassad, expressing grief over the death of the Kuki civilian and concern for the injured village leaders and displaced families.
She also called the burning of houses an intolerable crime.
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.
In a separate incident at Kamjong district headquarters on Saturday night, three Tangkhul Naga civilians sustained bullet injuries when rival armed groups belonging to another community attacked the village.