Manipur: Security Forces Among 25 Injured as Naga Villages Clash Over Land Dispute

A violent clash between residents of two Naga villages in Manipur’s Tamenglong district has left at least 25 people injured, including 12 security personnel, prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS). The unrest, rooted in a long-standing land boundary dispute, erupted on Wednesday evening and has heightened tensions in the region.
The conflict began around 12:30 PM on Wednesday when approximately 2,000 residents of Old Tamenglong village organized a march to the offices of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police in Tamenglong district headquarters. The procession aimed to submit a memorandum addressing a protracted boundary dispute with neighboring Dailong village. According to police reports, tensions escalated when an unidentified person, allegedly from Dailong village, began pelting stones at the rally, triggering a violent confrontation between the two groups.
Residents of Duigailong village reportedly joined the fray in support of Dailong, further intensifying the clash. During the violence, a mob set fire to the Public Works Department (PWD) inspection bungalow in Tamenglong, causing significant property damage. Security forces, including civil police, Manipur Rifles, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, responded by firing tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse the crowd and restore order.

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Officials confirmed that at least 25 individuals were injured, including 14 villagers and 12 security personnel (eight civil police officers, two Manipur Rifles personnel, and two CRPF officers). The exact nature of the injuries has not been disclosed, but the situation was brought under control by Wednesday evening.
In response to the unrest, the District Magistrate of Tamenglong, Dr. L. Angshim Dangshawa, imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) across Tamenglong district headquarters and the adjoining areas of Dailong, Duigailong, and Old Tamenglong. The orders, effective immediately, prohibit gatherings, carrying weapons, and any activities that could disturb public peace. The restrictions will remain in place until further notice, according to the official notification.
According to reports, the clash stems from a long-standing boundary dispute between the Naga villages of Old Tamenglong and Dailong, emphasizing that it is unrelated to the ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities that has plagued Manipur since May 2023.
The violence is linked to a court order issued on April 15, 2024, by the Civil Judge (Senior Division) in Tamenglong, which directed the formation of a commission to resolve the boundary dispute. A meeting held at a tea plantation area in Tamenglong Khunjao (Old Tamenglong) on Wednesday morning to discuss the issue failed to de-escalate tensions, leading to the subsequent march and clash.
Tamenglong, a Naga-dominated hill district in western Manipur, has a history of territorial disputes among its tribal communities. The recent clash is not an isolated incident. In October 2024, a similar dispute in Manipur’s Ukhrul district between the Naga villages of Hunphun and Hungpung resulted in three deaths and around 30 injuries, with prohibitory orders and internet suspensions imposed to curb the violence.

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Land disputes in Manipur often stem from competing claims over traditional boundaries, exacerbated by the lack of clear demarcation and historical agreements. The Naga community, which dominates Tamenglong and other hill districts, has also expressed concerns over broader issues, such as the creation of new districts in 2016 and the fencing of the India-Myanmar border, which they argue infringe on their land rights.
Unlike the ongoing Meitei-Kuki ethnic clashes, which have claimed over 258 lives and displaced 60,000 people since May 2023, the Tamenglong incident is a localized conflict within the Naga community. However, it underscores the broader challenges of resolving territorial disputes in Manipur’s ethnically diverse and geographically complex landscape.
As of May 1, 2025, the situation in Tamenglong remains tense but under control, with security forces maintaining a heavy presence in the affected areas.
Authorities are likely to prioritize investigations into the clash and engage with village leaders to prevent further escalation. The formation of the commission to address the Old Tamenglong-Dailong boundary dispute, as mandated by the 2024 court order, may serve as a starting point for resolution, but its success will depend on cooperation from all parties involved.