Manipur: At least 30 houses torched, one injured in attack on Liangmai Naga villages

At least 30 houses were allegedly set ablaze, and a villager sustained a gunshot injury after unidentified armed miscreants attacked three Liangmai Naga villages in Manipur's Kangpokpi district early Tuesday, September 1, officials said.

The incident took place around 4 am in Tapon Khullen, Tapon Khunou and Makui Pipuram villages, located along the Imphal-Tamenglong road, according to Kangpokpi police.

The attack came a day after three civilians, including two women, were killed and four others injured in an attack on Teikhang Kuki village in the district.

A senior police officer told India Today that additional security forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force and its CoBRA unit, along with Manipur Police, had reached the area and launched a search operation.

The officer said the attack was followed by gunfire that continued until around 12.30 pm.

During an initial verification of the affected area, police found that at least 30 houses, besides vehicles and other properties, had been damaged in the arson.

However, Kangpokpi Police later said the exact number of houses and properties damaged was yet to be ascertained.

The latest incident has added to growing tensions along the Imphal-Tamenglong corridor, where a series of attacks and retaliatory incidents have been reported in recent days.

According to reports, at least 17 people from the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities have been killed in separate incidents in the area since May 13.

An August 27 ambush resulted in the deaths of four Naga civilians, while the August 31 attack on Teikhang Kuki village left three Kuki civilians dead in the adjoining areas of Kangpokpi and Tamenglong districts.

Despite the series of attacks and retaliatory incidents, no group has so far officially claimed responsibility for the violence.