Houses reportedly set ablaze after deadly attack in Manipur’s Kamjong, residents fear for safety

Chassad village in Manipur’s Kamjong district witnessed renewed tension on October 17, with reports of continued gunfire and houses being set ablaze, hours after an armed attack left one person dead and five others injured.

Videos purportedly recorded by local residents appeared to show houses engulfed in flames, while voices in the background described continued firing and alleged arson. The contents and circumstances of the videos could not be independently verified.

In one video, a distressed resident appealed to people to pray for the safety of Chassad residents, alleging that armed militants had started setting houses on fire while gunfire continued in the village.

The resident also expressed concern for women and children, saying they were living in fear amid the unfolding situation. He voiced apprehension that continued violence could threaten the community’s ancestral village.

The reports of firing and burning houses have heightened concerns over civilian safety, particularly that of women, children and other vulnerable residents.

The latest developments followed a daylight attack in Chassad earlier today, in which one person was killed and five others, including two village chiefs and three Village Authority members, sustained bullet injuries, according to local accounts.

The reported escalation has raised fears of further violence and damage to homes in the village. The circumstances surrounding the alleged arson and the identity of those responsible have not been independently established.

The situation has renewed concerns over the safety of residents in the sensitive hill district, with calls for urgent steps to protect civilians and prevent further violence.