Four Naga homes burnt in Manipur hours after four Kukis killed

The brief

Context

Manipur's ethnic conflict, which began in May 2023 between Meiteis and Kuki-Zos, has widened to draw in other communities, including Nagas. Tensions between Naga and Kuki-Zo groups escalated sharply after twin ambushes on May 13, when Kuki militants abducted six Nagas who were later found mutilated. On Sunday, four Kuki-Zos were killed in two attacks in Tamenglong district and a six-year-old boy was shot; hours later, four abandoned Naga homes were burnt at Khedaghar in what officials called a retaliatory attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the killings, but the Kuki-Zo Council has blamed NSCN-IM and ZUF-K cadres.

Key facts

• Four abandoned Naga homes were set on fire at Khedaghar, about 27 km from Tamenglong district headquarters, on Sunday evening; no casualties as residents had left weeks earlier.
• Four Kuki-Zos were killed in two attacks in Tamenglong on Sunday and a six-year-old boy sustained a bullet injury to his hand, reportedly leaving it nearly severed.
• In the first attack around 5.30 am at Tollen village, Lhingzangai Singsit, 46, was shot dead on the spot; her husband Seineh Singsit later succumbed to bullet injuries.
• In Longpi village, Julie Gangte, a pregnant woman, and Thangvel Roel Gangte were killed, while Nei Esther sustained critical injuries, according to the Kuki-Zo Council.
• Sporadic violence has left 306 people dead and 49 missing in Manipur since May 2023.
• Tamenglong has only one remote Naga village, Baiboni, around 30 km from headquarters, with about 20 houses and a permanent CRPF platoon; a 38 Assam Rifles column is at Muolzol Kuki village 3 km away.
• The Kuki-Zo Council said Naga armed groups have reportedly killed 22 Kuki-Zos, including women and children, since the beginning of 2026, while Naga leaders demand justice for six Nagas killed in May.
• On August 31, nine Naga legislators submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding the immediate arrest of Kuki-Zo leaders who claimed responsibility for killing the six Nagas.

Timeline

1. May 2023Ethnic violence begins in Manipur between Meitei and Kuki communities; 306 dead and 49 missing since then.
2. 1990sKuki-Naga conflict; Kukis observe 'Black Day' annually on September 13 in memory of the victims.
3. May 13Twin ambush kills four, including three church leaders and one Naga; Kuki militants abduct six Nagas in Kangpokpi; Kuki-Zo and Naga groups capture 48 people.
4. May 15Fourteen captives each from the two communities are released.
5. June 9Remaining 14 Kuki-Zo hostages freed unharmed.
6. June 10 (next day)Mutilated bodies of the six abducted Nagas found.
7. FebruaryNew Manipur government formed with representatives of all three major communities, nearly a year after President's Rule was imposed.
8. August 31Nine Naga legislators submit memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking arrest of Kuki-Zo leaders.
9. Sunday (5.30 am onwards)Four Kuki-Zos killed at Tollen and Longpi villages in Tamenglong; six-year-old boy shot in the hand.
10. Sunday eveningFour abandoned Naga homes burnt at Khedaghar in a retaliatory attack.

Who has a stake

• Kuki-Zo community and Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) — Four members killed and a child maimed; the apex civil body demands accountability for 22 Kuki-Zos it says Naga armed groups killed since early 2026.
• Naga community in Tamenglong — Homes burnt in retaliation; residents had already fled weeks earlier fearing Kuki reprisal; Naga leaders seek justice for six Nagas killed in May.
• NSCN-IM and ZUF-K — Accused by Kuki groups of carrying out the Tollen and Longpi attacks; no group has claimed responsibility.
• Security forces (CRPF, 38 Assam Rifles) — Deployed to dominate the area; a permanent CRPF platoon at Baiboni and an Assam Rifles column at Muolzol to prevent further attacks.
• Manipur government and Union Home Ministry — New February government with all three communities must restore order; Amit Shah has received Naga legislators' memorandum on arrests.
• Nemcha Kipgen, Deputy Chief Minister — Her husband Thangboi Kipgen was among the four killed in the May 13 twin ambush.

Why it matters

The Tamenglong killings and arson show Manipur's conflict has expanded beyond the original Meitei-Kuki axis into a second Naga-Kuki front, making a settlement harder even after a representative government was formed in February. With 306 dead and 49 missing since May 2023, and no group claiming responsibility for the latest killings, the state's security architecture and ceasefire arrangements with armed groups are under strain.