Imphal, July 11: Fresh tensions gripped Manipur’s ethnic fringe areas on Saturday after six abandoned houses belonging to displaced Meitei families were set on fire in the Kanto Sabal area near Leimakhong in Imphal West district, prompting a large security deployment and the arrest of two persons in connection with the incident.
Meitei community leaders and civil society organisations alleged that Kuki-Zo militants were behind the arson attacks.
The arson took place in the afternoon in Kanto Sabal, a sensitive village located along the Imphal West–Kangpokpi boundary, an area that has witnessed repeated ethnic tensions since violence erupted in the state in May 2023.
According to local reports, the houses had been lying vacant for months after their owners fled to relief camps following earlier episodes of violence. Fire engulfed several structures before firefighters and security personnel managed to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby properties. While some reports said two houses were completely destroyed, others indicated that six abandoned houses were damaged in the incident.
The affected families reportedly include those of Laitongjam Sanathoi (21), L. Rajesh (36), L. Rahul (31), T. Leiri (80), Kangjam Guni (75), and Laitonjam Bijeta, all of whom had been displaced and were staying at the Khurkhul Mandop Relief Camp.
No casualties or injuries were reported.
Security Forces Use Tear Gas
Following reports of the arson, hundreds of local residents attempted to move towards the affected area. Security personnel comprising the Manipur Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the Army moved quickly to prevent further escalation.
Officials used tear gas shells to disperse the gathering after tensions mounted near the site. Local reports estimated that around 600 people had assembled, although authorities have not officially confirmed the figure.
The incident occurred only a few kilometres from the headquarters of the Indian Army’s 57 Mountain Division at Leimakhong, one of the state’s largest military installations, raising fresh questions over security in the volatile fringe zone.
READ: Fresh Violence in Manipur Hills: Kuki Farmer Gunned Down
Two Arrested
The Manipur Police said joint teams of the police, CRPF, RAF and Army arrested two persons in connection with the arson and the ensuing disturbance.
The arrested individuals were identified as:
- Kammang Lhouvum (65), Chief of Hengjang Village and Chairman of the Leimakhong Area Protection Committee (LAPC).
- Pagin Hangshing (30), a resident of Khunkho Kuki Village.
Police said efforts were continuing to identify and apprehend other individuals allegedly involved in the incident.
No details have yet been released regarding the specific charges against the two accused or the evidence linking them to the arson.
Incident Follows Fresh Tensions
The arson occurred amid heightened tensions in the Leimakhong region following reports of a march by members of Kuki civil society groups towards the area earlier in the day. Authorities have not officially linked the two events, and the sequence of events leading to the fire remains under investigation.
⚡More reports coming in
JULY 11, 2026
📍Kanto Sabal, Leimakhong, Sekmai, Imphal West Dist. ManipurHeartbroken owners of the six (6) houses in Kanto Sabal, in the Leimakhong area of Imphal West district, broke down in tears after their houses were found burnt to ashes and… https://t.co/UagwhCywlW pic.twitter.com/x8JNxH8K1v
— 📍SHANGH CHE🚭 (@JosephNaga1986) July 11, 2026
Some local political leaders, including Sekmai MLA Heikham Dingo Singh, questioned how the incident could occur despite the presence of substantial security forces and the proximity of a major Army garrison. They called for a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the attack and the security arrangements in the area.
Leimakhong and the adjoining Kanto Sabal area lie along one of Manipur’s most sensitive ethnic fault lines separating Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts. Since the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in May 2023, the region has witnessed repeated incidents of arson, firing, displacement and destruction of homes.
Thousands of families from both communities remain displaced and continue to live in relief camps across the state. Despite the deployment of thousands of Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF and state police personnel, sporadic violence continues to occur in several fringe areas.
The latest arson is expected to further deepen tensions in the region as authorities investigate the incident and intensify security to prevent retaliatory violence.
Police said the investigation is continuing and appealed to the public to maintain peace and refrain from spreading rumours on social media.
