What began as a drunken scuffle escalated into an armed attack on a village chief’s residence, forcing authorities to clamp a curfew and deploy heavy security to prevent further violence.
BY PC Bureau
February 8, 2026 — Authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew in Litan village and adjoining areas of Ukhrul district, Manipur, following a violent clash between members of the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities on the evening of February 7. The move aims to prevent further escalation in a region already marked by long-standing ethnic fault lines and recent flare-ups.
According to local sources and community statements, the incident began as a scuffle involving a few intoxicated individuals from both communities at Litan Sarei Khong. What initially appeared to be a minor altercation rapidly escalated when a group of heavily armed villagers, allegedly from nearby Sikibung, attacked the residence of the Litan Sarei Khong village chief. The assailants reportedly targeted the home of a person involved in the initial dispute, even as police attempted to intervene.
As the attackers retreated, they allegedly fired at least seven rounds near the Litan Police Station, triggering panic among residents in what had until then been a relatively peaceful locality.
Manipur cann’t afford any further ethnic violence. Let us work and put efforts to calm down all sides and return to a normal , progressive state.#Manipur #Peace #Ukhrul pic.twitter.com/6iG295vmHl
— huidrom athouba (@HuidromAthouba) February 8, 2026
The Village Authority of Litan Sarei Khong strongly condemned the violence in a press statement, describing it as an unprovoked assault and appealing for calm, restraint, and peaceful resolution. The statement urged community leaders to ensure that personal or localized disputes are not allowed to spiral into broader communal confrontations.
The curfew, enforced by the district administration with the support of security forces, restricts movement and public gatherings to restore order and facilitate investigation. Large contingents of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order and prevent retaliatory attacks.
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The incident unfolds against the backdrop of chronic ethnic tensions in Manipur’s hill districts. While the Meitei–Kuki–Zo conflict that erupted in May 2023 has dominated national attention—claiming over 260 lives and displacing tens of thousands—frictions between Naga (including Tangkhul) and Kuki communities have simmered alongside, frequently driven by disputes over land, resources, and illegal activities such as poppy cultivation.
Fragile Peace Efforts
The Tangkhul and Kuki communities share a history of both coexistence and conflict. In June 2025, Tangkhul civil society organizations and Kuki village chiefs in the Litan area signed a formal undertaking at the Litan Police Station to resolve disputes and promote peace. However, recurring incidents—including land encroachments and armed confrontations—have continued to strain these fragile agreements.
Manipur is also navigating a delicate political transition following the end of President’s Rule in early 2026 and the installation of a new government led by Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh. While reconciliation initiatives, including rare cross-community outreach efforts, have been launched, their impact remains uneven and contested.
Security officials have appealed to residents to cooperate with authorities, refrain from spreading rumors, and avoid retaliatory actions. Community leaders from both sides are reportedly engaged in talks to defuse tensions, with renewed calls for dialogue to address underlying grievances rather than allowing isolated incidents to spiral into wider unrest.
The curfew is expected to remain in force until the situation stabilizes. Residents have been advised to remain indoors, with limited exemptions granted for medical emergencies and essential services under strict monitoring.
This latest episode once again highlights the fragile peace in Manipur’s multi-ethnic landscape, where localized disputes can rapidly intersect with deeper ethnic, political, and economic fault lines, posing persistent challenges to stability and reconciliation.
