Civil society groups have condemned the violence in Ukhrul villages, alleging that civilians came under fire in several locations, including Litan Sareikhong, Shongphol, Sinakeithel, and nearby villages.
BY PC Bureau
March 20, 2026 — Multiple incidents of firing rocked fringe areas of Ukhrul district in Manipur on March 19, 2026, heightening fears of a broader escalation between Kuki and Tangkhul Naga communities.
The clashes, reported across locations including Litan Sareikhong, Shongphol (or Songphel), Sinakeithel (Sinakeithei), and nearby villages, involved alleged armed attacks on civilians and drew sharp condemnations from both sides.According to a press release from the Kuki CSO Working Committee (Ukhrul), armed Tangkhul groups carried out coordinated firing at several points throughout the day:
- Around 3:15 PM near Mullam, where local farmers came under fire, injuring one person (identity unconfirmed) and sparking retaliatory exchanges that caused panic.
- At approximately the same time, civilians from Shongphol repairing electrical lines near the border with Sinakeithel were reportedly targeted by armed Tangkhul volunteers.
- By 4:00 PM, firing along the Lepflen-Saikul road between Lepflen and Tingpibung damaged vehicles and stranded commuters.
- In the evening around 7:00 PM, automatic weapons were allegedly used in the Litan Sareikhong sector toward Mongkot Chepu, leading to prolonged exchanges.
READ: Iranian Missile Barrage Hits Israel’s Haifa Refinery
READ: Manipur: Ukhrul on Edge After Fresh Gunfire in Sinakeithei
The Kuki statement described these as “coordinated actions” aimed at escalating localized disputes into communal conflict, accusing vested interests of undermining tribal unity. It urged Tangkhul stakeholders to restrain such actions while warning that Kuki restraint should not be seen as weakness, emphasizing that civilian safety would no longer be compromised.
A separate press statement from the Ihang-Bungpi Working Committee strongly condemned the attacks as “unprovoked” and part of a pattern of targeted intimidation against Kuki civilians. It referenced prior incidents, including the March 12 killing of two Kuki men repairing village water supplies (attributed to NSCN-IM-linked militants), and highlighted firing on unarmed civilians repairing electricity between Shongphol and Songmun villages.
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
The group questioned the impunity of armed elements and the failure of central security forces to intervene, demanding an impartial investigation, arrests, prosecution, and stronger security deployment. It warned that continued inaction would be viewed as complicity.
These events occur amid longstanding ethnic frictions in Manipur’s hill districts, exacerbated by territorial claims, resource disputes, and the lingering impact of broader Meitei-Kuki clashes since 2023. Previous flare-ups in the Litan Sareikhong area earlier in 2026 involved arson and restrictions, contributing to mutual distrust.
Authorities have yet to issue an official confirmation of casualties or arrests as of March 20. Security forces are reportedly deployed, but calls for impartial intervention and accountability persist from both communities.
The incidents underscore the fragile peace in Ukhrul, where overlapping claims and armed presence continue to threaten civilian lives. Stakeholders on all sides have appealed for de-escalation, urging immediate action to prevent further bloodshed.
