Eyewitnesses reported that a minor brawl between intoxicated youths escalated into full-scale armed confrontations. Video footage shows homes and vehicles engulfed in flames, while gunfire near the police station added to the chaos.
BY PC Bureau
February 9, 2026: Litan Sareikhong village in Ukhrul District, Manipur, was engulfed in violent clashes over February 7–8, 2026, between the Kuki-Zo and Tangkhul Naga communities, resulting in the destruction of more than 20 homes, multiple vehicles. The unrest, which began as a minor altercation involving a few intoxicated individuals, escalated into armed confrontations, widespread arson, and the displacement of residents. No fatalities have been officially reported as of February 9.
Reports said that the on February 7 around 8:30 PM a scuffle broke between youths from Kuki-dominated Litan Sareikhong and Tangkhul-dominated nearby villages. Some reports indicate that a Tangkhul Naga man, AS Sterling from Sarkaphung village, sustained injuries during the altercation. An FIR was filed at Litan Police Station, and some weapons were seized to prevent immediate escalation.
#Manipur #Update
After using drunkards as an excuse to create problems at Litan Sareikhong on 07.02.2025 the Tangkhuls have now started burning Kuki houses.
The hands of secessionist NSCN-IM is suspected to be behind this.
There is still time to not let things out of hand. @adgpi pic.twitter.com/ANlsEkxaxj— David 𝐊𝐮𝐤𝐢 (@KipsKuki) February 8, 2026
By the night of February 8, tensions had escalated, with armed groups moving through the village engaging in stone-pelting and setting homes and vehicles on fire. Eyewitnesses described attackers as camouflaged and armed with firearms and incendiary devices. Residents fled into open fields to escape the flames, while the night sky was illuminated by widespread fires. Retreating groups reportedly fired several rounds near Litan Police Station, causing panic across the village. Video footage circulating on social media shows multiple structures engulfed in flames, with limited visible intervention from authorities.
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Responsibility for the violence remains contested. Kuki-Zo community organizations alleged that Tangkhul groups—possibly aligned with NSCN-IM militants—initiated the arson attacks. They criticized the apparent inaction of security forces and called for immediate state intervention, impartial investigations, legal action against perpetrators, rehabilitation of affected families, and preventive security measures. Some social media users also reported that a local church had been burned, escalating concerns over communal polarization.
Conversely, local media reported that the Kuki-Zo militants firsts set fire to Tangkhul Naga homes in Litan Village , prompting a retaliatory attack by Tangkhul Naga armed groups in thgeir onw stronghold. Other narratives describe the clash as part of longstanding ethnic and land-related tensions. An FIR was filed at Litan Police Station, and some weapons were seized to prevent immediate escalation.
9/2/2026
Kuki Burning Tangkhul Naga House at Litan Ukhrul, Manipur. pic.twitter.com/9e4lI6bSMa— 𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐌𝐀𝐈 𝐏⭕𝐒𝐓 (@LIANGMAIPOST) February 8, 2026
The Litan Sareikhong Village Authority condemned the violence as “unlawful actions” by armed groups, including an alleged attack on the residence of the village chief, despite attempts at dialogue. The authority urged communities not to communalize the incident and called for peaceful resolution, emphasizing that the violence represented a broader pattern of mistrust and retaliation.
The Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum, Delhi described the attacks as a “grave violation of human rights,” highlighting the disproportionate suffering of women, children, and the elderly. They demanded immediate intervention from state and central authorities, impartial investigations, legal action against perpetrators, rehabilitation for displaced families, and preventive measures to protect vulnerable villages.
In response to the unrest, Ukhrul District Magistrate Asish Das imposed a curfew from 7 PM onward on February 9, exempting government officials and security personnel. Additional Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and state personnel were deployed to restore order. Displaced residents remain in temporary shelters as investigations continue and the community assesses damages.
Manipur has witnessed recurring ethnic tensions between Kuki, Naga, and Meitei communities since 2023, with cycles of displacement, property destruction, and communal mistrust. Analysts warn that without sustained dialogue, strict law enforcement, and attention to historic grievances, incidents like those in Litan Sareikhong are likely to recur, particularly in ethnically mixed areas.
