Fresh ethnic violence rocked Manipur after reported abductions and armed clashes involving Kuki-Zo volunteers and suspected Naga militants following the killing of three Kuki church leaders.
BY PC Bureau
May 13, 2026 — Ethnic tensions in Manipur escalated sharply after suspected Naga militants allegedly attacked the Kuki settlement at Leimakong (also spelled Lei Makong) village following the ambush killing of three prominent Kuki church leaders, according to local sources and community accounts.
Eyewitnesses and Kuki civil society groups alleged that armed Naga militants, reportedly linked to Tangkhul volunteers or factions associated with the NSCN-IM, targeted Kuki civilians in the village during a pre-dawn raid. Several Kuki residents were reportedly taken hostage, while a number of houses were allegedly damaged in the attack, triggering panic among the local Kuki-Zo community.
The incident came only hours after the killing of three Kuki church leaders, including Rev. Dr. V. Sitlhou, former General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention, who were ambushed while travelling. Their deaths sparked widespread outrage and mourning across Kuki-dominated areas.
In the aftermath of the Leimakong attack, Kuki-Zo village volunteers were reportedly mobilised, leading to clashes with the alleged attackers and retaliatory hostage-taking involving Naga civilians. Local accounts described exchanges of fire and tit-for-tat abductions, with civilians caught in the escalating violence.
Civil society organisations from both Kuki and Naga communities have reportedly initiated talks aimed at securing the release of all hostages and preventing further bloodshed. Church leaders and apex bodies, including representatives of the Kuki Inpi and Naga organisations such as the Tangkhul Naga Long, are said to be involved in mediation efforts. Similar negotiations have previously helped de-escalate tensions in parts of Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
READ: Suspected Naga Militants Kill Three Kuki Church Leaders in Manipur
Leimakong, located in Kangpokpi district near the outskirts of Imphal West, holds major strategic importance in Manipur’s security landscape. The area hosts the Leimakhong Military Station, a key Indian Army and Assam Rifles cantonment that serves as an important logistical and operational hub for security forces deployed across sensitive hill-valley corridors.
Its proximity to major highway networks and routes leading towards the Indo-Myanmar border has made the area a critical security zone. Despite the presence of large security installations nearby, recurring violence has raised concerns over enforcement challenges and the ability of authorities to prevent attacks in contested regions. Competing communities have frequently accused security forces of bias or inadequate protection during episodes of unrest.
The latest violence underscores the widening fault lines between Kuki-Zo and Naga groups amid the broader ethnic conflict that has gripped Manipur since 2023. While the principal divide remains between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, tensions involving Naga groups and allegations of cross-border militant involvement from Myanmar have increasingly complicated the security situation.
Authorities have reportedly deployed additional security forces to the area, while police and civil administration officials have appealed for restraint and cooperation with ongoing investigations into both the killings of the church leaders and the Leimakong incident.
As negotiations over the reported hostages continue, fears remain that the violence could spread further across the hill districts. This report is based on preliminary local accounts, community statements, and media reports, while independent verification of several claims remains ongoing.
