New Delhi, December 16, 2025 — Sporadic gunfire broke out late Tuesday night in the sensitive border village of Torbung, barely a day after a group of Meitei internally displaced persons (IDPs) began returning to their homes following more than two years of displacement triggered by Manipur’s ethnic violence.
The incident has renewed fears of fresh tensions in a state still grappling with the fallout of the May 2023 clashes between the majority Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo tribes.
Local sources and videos circulating on social media captured the sound of gunshots amid panic and shouting, with residents claiming that heavy firing was directed towards Meitei habitations. Witnesses alleged that the shots originated from nearby hill positions, purportedly held by armed Kuki groups, prompting a response from central security forces. Reports said that security forces retailiated and the exchange of fire lasted for more than 20 minutes.
No casualties have been officially confirmed so far. Security has since been intensified, with additional deployments along the Bishnupur–Churachandpur border, including Torbung and adjoining Phougakchao Ikhai.
SoS! Save #Meitei IDPs at #Torbung #Manipur @manipur_police@Spearcorps @LokBhavManipur@AmitShah @official_dgar#Meitei IDPs resettled yesterday at Torbung village facing incessant firing from #Kuki terrorists.
Vc: Torbung 360@NBirenSingh pic.twitter.com/Xvxjee4llN
— MeiteiYekSalai (@MeiteiYek) December 16, 2025
Fragile Return to Normalcy
The firing came just a day after the phased return of displaced Meitei families to Torbung — a move authorities had described as a cautious step toward normalcy. On Sunday, families who had been living in relief camps since 2023 began resettling with government support.
Officials transferred an initial ₹40,000 per family, with an additional ₹35,000 promised upon permanent resettlement. Community volunteers accompanied the returnees, many of whom restricted their visits to daytime hours due to continuing security concerns.
The unprovoked firing towards #Meetei villages hv now reaches #Phaugakchai Ikai after #Torbung.
Will #IndianArmy @adgpi act against #Kukis? Will @BhallaAjay26 scrap #SoO agreement with #KNO & #UPF? Will #AssamRifles @official_dgar remain silent?#ManipurUnderAttack@PUCLindia pic.twitter.com/Z1nc2iAq7d
— Kangleipak Information Bureau (@yaiphaba07) December 16, 2025
Torbung, situated along a strategic corridor linking the Imphal Valley to Manipur’s hill districts, was among the earliest flashpoints of the ethnic conflict. The area witnessed widespread destruction, forced evacuations, and mass abandonment. Large sections of the village remain uninhabitable, with burnt homes, overgrown fields, and non-functional basic infrastructure, including electricity, water supply, and schools.
READ: As CSOs Capitulate into Silence, Kuki-Zo Armed Group Steps In With Warning to MLAs
Volatile Border Areas
Despite the absence of large-scale violence in recent months under President’s Rule — imposed in February 2025 following the resignation of former Chief Minister N Biren Singh — border zones continue to remain volatile. Buffer zones and heavy security deployments persist, but residents report heightened anxiety, particularly after nightfall.
Civil society groups have cautioned against hasty or poorly planned resettlement, warning that premature returns could trigger further escalation.
“Resettlement must be safe, voluntary, and backed by rehabilitation measures — including compensation, livelihood support, and sustained security,” said a civil society activist familiar with relief efforts.
Aid organisations have also flagged “relief fatigue” in displacement camps, noting that shrinking assistance is pushing families toward risk-laden homecomings.
Broader Crisis Remains Unresolved
Manipur remains under extended central rule, with political dialogue largely stalled. The ethnic conflict, triggered in 2023 over issues including demands for Scheduled Tribe status, has displaced tens of thousands and claimed hundreds of lives.
With Christmas approaching — a major festival for the largely Christian Kuki-Zo population — officials and community leaders fear that unresolved grievances could fuel fresh unrest.
For families returning to Torbung, the episode underscores the fragile and uncertain path to reconciliation in a state where peace on paper has yet to translate into lasting security on the ground.
