The confrontation is believed to be linked to an ultimatum issued by Naga groups asking Kuki-Zo residents to vacate the village, claiming it as ancestral land.
BY PC Bureau
March 17: Tension escalated in Manipur’s Ukhrul district after reports of fresh gunfire near Shangkai village on Tuesday night, where armed Kuki-Zo volunteers and suspected Naga militant elements were said to have confronted each other amid an ongoing dispute over land ownership.
While there is no official confirmation of casualties, sources on the ground indicated that the situation turned volatile when a group of armed individuals, believed to be Naga militants, allegedly advanced towards the Kuki-Zo-inhabited Shangkai village. The reported movement is being linked to an ultimatum issued earlier by certain Naga bodies asking Kuki residents to vacate the area.
According to local sources, Kuki-Zo volunteers from nearby hill districts had mobilised and moved towards Shangkai in recent days to defend the village following the ultimatum. The two sides were reportedly engaged in an exchange of fire, triggering panic in the surrounding areas.
Security forces, including central armed personnel stationed nearby, were said to have intervened to prevent further escalation. However, officials are yet to issue a detailed statement on the sequence of events.
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Ultimatum Sparks Flashpoint
The current tension follows an ultimatum reportedly issued by a Naga youth body, which asked Kuki residents of Shangkai to vacate the village, claiming it falls within Naga ancestral land. The notice warned of consequences if the directive was not complied with, escalating anxieties in the already sensitive hill district.
Naga groups have maintained that the presence of Kuki-Zo settlers in the area constitutes encroachment, asserting traditional ownership over the land.
Kuki-Zo Bodies Reject Claim
Kuki-Zo village authorities and civil society organisations have strongly rejected the ultimatum, terming it “unilateral and unjustified.” They have asserted that Shangkai is a legitimate Kuki-Zo settlement and that its residents will not vacate under pressure.
Community leaders have also alleged that attempts are being made to forcibly displace villagers, warning that such actions could further destabilise the region.
Fragile Situation on the Ground
The reported mobilisation of armed volunteers from both sides has heightened concerns of escalation, with residents fearing renewed violence. Although there has been no official confirmation of injuries or fatalities, the atmosphere in and around Shangkai remains tense.
Authorities are understood to be closely monitoring the situation, and additional security deployment is likely if tensions persist.
Shangkai and surrounding areas in Ukhrul district have witnessed rising friction between Naga and Kuki-Zo communities in recent weeks, amid competing claims over land and territorial rights. The latest developments come against the backdrop of a broader ethnic conflict in Manipur’s hill districts, where mistrust between communities remains high.
