Manipur: KSO leader rejects communal angle in Ukhrul clash, blames drunken brawl and misinformation

The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Ukhrul district, on February 10 rejected claims of a communal clash in Litan village, stating that the incident stemmed from a minor scuffle between a few intoxicated individuals that was later misrepresented, aggravating tensions between communities.

KSO Ukhrul vice president Mercy Khongsai said what began as a small altercation involving three or four drunk men was wrongly projected as a clash between two communities. “It is not a communal thing at all. However, some anti-social elements or people with such a mindset are trying to portray it as a communal issue,” she said, expressing concern over how the situation spiralled despite efforts to defuse it.

Khongsai said a meeting was held on Monday involving representatives of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) and the Deputy Chief Minister to resolve the matter. 

“Unfortunately, we could not arrive at any understanding. It is very disheartening that immediately after the meeting, some Tankhul people started burning three or four houses,” she alleged, adding that a small fight had turned “very ugly” due to misinterpretation and deliberate escalation.

Eyewitness accounts from the affected village echoed similar concerns. Hegin Baite, a resident of Litan village, said the initial quarrel involved drunk individuals and was expected to subside. “We thought it was a small matter and peace would prevail. But they escalated the issue and attacked us with stones. They even burnt our house,” Baite said.

Describing the fear and chaos that followed, Baite said his family was forced to flee under the cover of darkness. “We had to cross the river with our family at night. We did not start this,” he said, underscoring that the violence was not initiated by his community.

The incident has once again highlighted the fragile situation in parts of Manipur, where local disputes are increasingly at risk of being framed along communal lines, further complicating efforts at reconciliation and peace.