April 25, 2025 – The tranquil villages of Gampal and Haiyang in Manipur’s Kamjong District were engulfed in flames on April 23, 2025, as armed miscreants launched a brutal attack, setting homes, a church, and other properties ablaze. The assault, which has deepened ethnic tensions in the region, continues to invite strong condemnations from Kuki organizations.
The Eastern Kuki Chiefs’ Association (EKCA), Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Kuki Women Union (KWU), and South Eastern Kuki Youth Organisation (SEKYO), alongside the Kuki Baptist Convention (KBC), described the attack as a “gross violation of human rights” and a “deeply troubling escalation” of violence in Manipur’s rural areas. The communique, signed by leaders including Jangpao Haokip, Khaichon Touthang, Chongboi Vaiphei, and Lalboi Haokip, called for an impartial investigation and urgent measures to ensure the safety of the villagers.
The EKCA and KBC statements called on security agencies to investigate the Gampal-Haiyang attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. They also urged the government to explain how the villages were set ablaze and why security measures failed to protect the residents. “We asked the perpetrators, who cowardly remained a mute spectator, to come to the table and explain how and why the two villages were set ablaze,” the joint communique stated, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.
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Coincidence or Coordination? On 22nd April, Tangkhul Long Union met ex-CM Biren. The next morning, armed miscreants, allegedly from NSCN-IM/Tangkhul, burned 2 Kuki villages-Gampal & Haijang-mirroring Chassad’s destruction. Is @HMOIndia involved in this orchestration? pic.twitter.com/aMyzsuPUYD— Jenifer Vaiphei (@Jenifer_Vaiphei) April 24, 2025
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The KBC, in a separate press release signed by Rev. Dr. M. Thongkholet Haokip, expressed solidarity with the victims and urged authorities to cooperate with civil society organizations for rehabilitation efforts.
The KBC highlighted the cultural and spiritual significance of the Gampal Baptist Church, noting its role as a cornerstone of the community The KBC pledged to work with civil society organizations to rebuild the villages and provide support to the affected families, while calling on the government to ensure their safety and rehabilitation.
The Gampal Baptist Church, one of the oldest in the area and a spiritual center for the community, was among the structures damaged during the attack. The church, under the KBC’s Gambih (Pastorate) No. 17, Chassad Area, served as a gathering place for over three hundred congregants, making its destruction a significant blow to the community’s cultural and religious life.
According to local accounts, the attack began in the early hours of April 23, when a group of armed individuals, allegedly equipped with sophisticated weapons, stormed the villages in broad daylight. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants targeted homes, the church, and its guest house, setting them on fire with little regard for the residents’ safety. While no fatalities were reported, the attack left the villages in ruins, with many families losing their homes and belongings.
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The Gampal-Haiyang attack is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of ethnic violence that has plagued Manipur for nearly two years. Since May 2023, the state has witnessed repeated clashes, often involving armed militias from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The violence has been exacerbated by the proliferation of weapons, with reports of looted arms from police armories fueling the conflict. Buffer zones, established by security forces to separate the two communities, have failed to prevent such attacks, particularly in remote areas like Kamjong.
The Gampal-Haiyang attack has reignited calls for a political solution to Manipur’s ethnic conflict. Kuki-Zo leaders have long demanded a separate administration for their community, citing repeated attacks and alleged discrimination by the state government.
Meanwhile, the Manipur government has deployed additional security forces to Kamjong District and promised a thorough investigation into the attack.
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