Imphal, April 25: Fresh ethnic violence erupted in Manipur's Ukhrul district on Friday, April 25, as armed cadres from the Kuki and Naga communities exchanged fire near Sinakethei and Mullam villages, leaving at least six civilians injured — three from each community. Simultaneously, internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Churachandpur district staged a sit-in protest, demanding equitable relief from the Union government.

What Happened in Ukhrul

According to Imphal police officials, armed groups from two communities clashed in the area between Mullam village — a predominantly Kuki-inhabited settlement — and Sinakethei village, located approximately five kilometres away. Police stated that further details of the incident were still being gathered.

Mullam village is described as an isolated Kuki enclave surrounded by Naga villages within Ukhrul district, making it particularly vulnerable to inter-community tensions. The geographic isolation of the village has historically made conflict resolution and security deployment more challenging.

The Mullam village authority released a statement alleging that the settlement was subjected to a coordinated armed assault by what it identified as Tangkhul Naga militants. The statement described the attack as extensive and premeditated.

KWOHR Condemns Attack; Reports Deaths and Property Damage

The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) issued a sharp condemnation of the incident, calling it a brutal and unprovoked attack on the Kuki-inhabited villages of Mullam and Songphel. The organisation stated that villagers first heard blank gunfire — allegedly used as a psychological tactic — before heavily armed assailants descended on the villages.

According to the KWOHR statement, the attack resulted in at least 15 houses being damaged, six civilians sustaining injuries from indiscriminate firing, and two persons losing their lives. The organisation noted a pattern of repeated gunfire incidents, including those reportedly directed at Leplen village from Sinakaithel Tangkhul-inhabited areas.

The KWOHR stated that this heinous act reflects a disturbing and continuing pattern of violence, adding that violence against unarmed civilians constitutes a grave violation of human rights and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.

IDPs Stage Protest in Churachandpur

In the Kuki-Zo community-dominated Churachandpur district, internally displaced persons (IDPs) — including a significant number of women from across the district — gathered at the Wall of Remembrance in Tuibong to hold a sit-in demonstration on Friday.

Protesters raised placards with demands including Extend Direct Benefit Transfer up to 2029, No compromise, give equal treatment to camped and non-camped IDPs, and Hear our cry, do not let us die. The slogans reflect growing frustration among displaced communities over unequal relief distribution.

Following the demonstration, IDP representatives submitted a memorandum addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah through the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur district. The memorandum cited the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), asserting that relief measures must be inclusive, non-discriminatory, and extend to all affected persons regardless of their place of residence.

Deeper Context: A Crisis That Refuses to End

The Manipur ethnic conflict, which began in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, has since expanded in its geographic and communal dimensions. The latest Ukhrul clashes involving Kuki and Naga communities signal a dangerous broadening of the conflict beyond its original fault lines — a development that security analysts have long warned about.

Notably, Ukhrul district is predominantly inhabited by the Tangkhul Naga community, and the presence of a Kuki village like Mullam within this district has historically created flashpoints. This is not the first time cross-community violence has been reported in this corridor, but the scale of the alleged assault — including deaths, injuries, and property destruction — marks a significant escalation.

The IDP protest in Churachandpur underscores a parallel humanitarian crisis: tens of thousands of displaced persons remain in relief camps or with host families, with many claiming that government relief has been inconsistently distributed between those in official camps and those living outside. This disparity in aid delivery has been a recurring grievance since the early months of the conflict.

What to Watch Next

Security forces have been deployed in the affected areas of Ukhrul district, and authorities are expected to release a fuller account of the incident in the coming days. The submission of the memorandum to Home Minister Amit Shah may trigger a formal review of IDP relief policies under the NDMA framework. With the conflict now entering its third year and showing signs of geographic expansion, pressure is mounting on both the Manipur state government and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to implement a credible peace roadmap before the situation deteriorates further.