Kuki villagers reportedly came under fire while repairing a shared power line in the Songphel–Mullam area. No confirmed casualties yet, though local accounts mention an injured village volunteer.
BY PC Bureau
March 19, 2026: Fresh gunfire targeting Kuki villagers was reported on Thursday afternoon in the Songphel–Mullam area along the Ukhrul–Kangpokpi border in Manipur’s hill districts. The incident reportedly occurred when villagers attempted to repair a shared electricity line supplying both Kuki and Tangkhul (Naga) communities.
Sources said Kuki villagers from Songphel–Mullam and nearby areas had gone to fix a power line that also serves the Tangkhul village of Sinakeithei. During the repair work, they allegedly came under fire, reportedly from Tangkhul militant elements.
No confirmed casualties have been reported so far. Some accounts mention a Kuki village volunteer sustaining injuries, but this remains unverified. Villagers are said to have fled the site, leaving behind tools and equipment.
Several posts on X by Kuki users claimed “intense firing” in the Mullam, Songphel and Tingpibung areas, along with alleged attacks on civilians and vehicles. The disruption has reportedly affected electricity supply to both Kuki and Tangkhul villages dependent on the same line.
Separate local inputs also referred to alleged firing on villagers returning to Dongsum, a Kuki settlement in the wider Kangpokpi–Ukhrul border belt. While Dongsum has not been independently confirmed in today’s incident, it is considered part of the same cluster of vulnerable villages.
The reported firing comes amid longstanding Kuki–Naga tensions in the Ukhrul hill region, driven by disputes over land, allegations of poppy cultivation, and the presence of armed groups, particularly the NSCN-IM on the Naga side.
Tensions escalated following a March 11, 2026 incident in which two Kuki individuals were allegedly killed in a clash linked to poppy cultivation. Kuki groups blamed NSCN-IM, triggering retaliatory actions and deepening mistrust.
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Security operations targeting poppy cultivation in the Mullam hill range in recent years have further strained relations between communities.
Manipur: Tangkhul Militants brazenly opened fire at Kuki civilians travellers. Luckily no one was hurt. However, Tangkhul mouthpiece @ukhrultimes would come up with a new propaganda to shield its terrorists. What’s the role of @Spearcorps @official_dgar station there?@HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/9JX8TYHPUc
— Florence Guite (@FlorenceGuite_) March 19, 2026
Naga voices on social media, meanwhile, have alleged that Kuki armed groups have been patrolling and constructing bunkers near Sinakeithei village, raising concerns of encroachment and possible escalation.
There has been no official confirmation or statement from Manipur Police, state authorities, or central security agencies as of the evening of March 19.
No major national or regional media outlets have independently verified the incident so far, and information continues to emerge primarily through social media posts.
The situation remains tense, with residents reporting fear of further violence and calling for urgent intervention by authorities.
