While no casualties were reported, several houses were damaged and residents, especially women and children, were left traumatised by the sudden violence.
BY PC Bureau
January 8, 2026: Panic swept through Kharam Vaiphei, a Kuki-Zo village in the peripheral areas of Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district, after an early-morning armed attack involving gunfire and bomb explosions on Thursday, January 8. The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from tribal organisations and village authorities, who have accused armed groups of targeting civilian areas and demanded immediate action from the authorities.
According to a press communiqué issued by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), Sadar Hills, the attack occurred at around 7 am, when a group of armed miscreants allegedly stormed the village and launched an assault using firearms and explosive devices believed to be of sophisticated nature. While no casualties were reported, several houses were damaged, and residents—particularly women and children—were left traumatised by the sudden violence.
COTU stated that Kharam Vaiphei and other Kuki-Zo villages in the outskirts of Kangpokpi have remained vulnerable targets since the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, and alleged that valley-based insurgent groups (VIBIGs) have continued to pose a threat to the region.
The organisation further alleged that the attack was linked to the activities of armed gangs operating under the patronage of valley-based organisations, naming the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) and accusing such groups of engaging in intimidation, kidnapping and so-called “staged interrogations” under the pretext of combating drugs.
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“Reports of the kidnapping of an elderly civilian and staged interrogations have also surfaced. Such acts by self-styled armed groups roaming freely have spread fear psychosis across the region,” the COTU statement said.
Kuki Inpi Condemns Attack, Flags Law and Order Failure
Condemning the incident, the Kuki Inpi South-West Sadar Hills termed the attack “deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” particularly at a time when President’s Rule is in force in Manipur.
“The unprovoked use of guns and explosives in a civilian settlement is a serious breach of law and order. The attack has created an atmosphere of fear and psychological distress among peaceful civilians,” the apex tribal body said.
Warning that continued inaction could embolden anti-social elements, the Kuki Inpi urged the authorities to identify, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators at the earliest, calling for the strictest punishment under the law to deter future attacks.
Village Authority Calls Assault ‘Cowardly and Provocative’
The Kharam Vaiphei Village Authority, in a separate statement, described the assault as a “cowardly and provocative act” intended to destabilise peace and security in the area. Expressing grave concern over the use of firearms and explosives within a residential settlement, the authority said the incident posed a direct threat to innocent lives.
The village body appealed to law enforcement agencies to increase vigilance, strengthen policing in vulnerable areas, and take proactive steps to prevent the recurrence of such violence. It also stressed the need to restore public confidence through visible and decisive action.
COTU Questions Government Inaction
While acknowledging efforts to restore a semblance of the rule of law in Manipur, COTU criticised what it described as the government’s failure to exercise its constitutional authority, even under Governor’s Rule, to contain armed groups operating with impunity.
“The inaction of the authorities to rein in these self-styled ‘police’ roaming freely is alarming and dangerous,” the statement said, urging security forces to track down the culprits and dismantle their hideouts in the peripheral areas of Kangpokpi before the situation escalates further.
Call for Peace, Unity and Rule of Law
Both tribal bodies and the village authority reaffirmed their commitment to peace, harmony and communal unity, while cautioning against the spread of misinformation or provocative narratives that could further inflame tensions.
They collectively urged the administration and security forces to act swiftly and decisively to protect innocent civilians, uphold the rule of law, and ensure accountability, warning that failure to do so could worsen the already fragile security situation in the region.
The incident comes amid continuing concerns over safety and governance in Manipur’s hill districts, as communities grapple with the prolonged fallout of the ethnic conflict.
