Tensions trace back to land disputes, poppy cultivation allegations, and armed groups , with mediation and state oversight seen as urgent needs.
BY PC Bureau
March 19, 2026 — Ukhrul district remains on edge following repeated exchanges of gunfire between armed Naga and Kuki village volunteers, underscoring the fragile security and escalating ethnic tensions in the region.
A flare-up occurred on Thursday afternoon in Sinakeithei, a Tangkhul Naga village, when villagers reported that gunfire originated from a bunker near the settlement, with retaliatory fire from Tangkhul Naga volunteers lasting nearly two hours. Accounts suggest the use of automatic weapons, with bullets reportedly reaching residential areas and prompting villagers to seek safer locations. No casualties have been officially confirmed, and independent verification is limited.
The Sinakeithei Village Authority (VA) stated that the bunker had been documented via drone footage several days earlier and reported to security forces for dismantling.
This incident follows a series of confrontations in the Ukhrul hills:
- March 12: Heavy firing reportedly occurred near residential areas.
- March 15: Gunfire disrupted a church service.
- Mid-March: Villagers complained of restricted movement, psychological stress, and disruption of daily activities such as farming and livestock management.
On March 17, the VA issued a formal ultimatum to Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, demanding dismantling of bunkers, medical aid, and monitoring of Suspension of Operations (SoO) camps. The VA warned that failure to act could result in further violence, with any casualties attributed to government negligence.
Reciprocal Tensions Along Borders
Additional unrest was reported in the Songphel–Mullam area along the Ukhrul–Kangpokpi border, where Kuki villagers repairing a shared electricity line reportedly came under gunfire. Residents fled the site, leaving behind tools and equipment. Social media posts described “intense firing” affecting multiple nearby villages, including Tingpibung and Dongsum, though these accounts remain unverified.
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The flare-ups are part of longstanding Kuki–Naga tensions, driven by land disputes, allegations of poppy cultivation, and the presence of Tangkhul armed groups on the Naga side. Violence escalated after a March 11 incident in which two Kuki individuals were killed in a clash linked to poppy fields, intensifying mutual suspicion and retaliatory actions.
The recurring incidents indicate a widening security vacuum in Ukhrul. While both Naga and Kuki communities maintain local volunteer and militia systems under the guise of self-protection, the lack of credible monitoring or proactive state intervention is a critical gap.
Analysts caution that unverified reports of firing and provocations could exacerbate tensions if left unchecked. They recommend immediate neutral mediation, careful verification of incidents, and restoration of civilian access to critical infrastructure to prevent further escalation.
