More houses torched on third day of Kuki-Naga violence, internet suspended in Manipur

Internet services were suspended in Manipur’s Naga-majority Ukhrul district for five days as violence between two tribal groups — Kuki-Zos and Nagas — continued for the third consecutive day on Tuesday (February 10, 2026).

Locals said miscreants torched nine to 10 houses on Tuesday (February 10) morning, escalating the ongoing tension between the Kuki-Zo and Naga villagers in the district’s Litan area, located midway between Imphal, the State’s capital, and Ukhrul, the district headquarters.

There were reports of armed miscreants opening fire, presumably to scare villagers away. According to officials, many villagers in the conflict zone have abandoned their houses for safer places.

N. Ashok Kumar, Manipur’s Home Commissioner-cum-Secretary, issued an order suspending “internet/data services, including services through broadband, VPN, and VSAT” in Ukhrul district for five days from 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday (February 10).

He said this was a preventive and precautionary measure given the volatile law-and-order situation and “apprehension that some anti-social elements might misuse social media with images, posts, and videos to “incite passion”.

The violence, triggered by an incident of assault on Saturday (February 7, 2026) night, continued despite the enforcement of prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita “until further orders” and the deployment of several companies of Central armed forces.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh appealed to the two communities to maintain peace and harmony, while a team of legislators led by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho visited the Litan area to assess the situation. The team also held meetings with the leaders of the two communities, calling for restraint.

“The situation is under control along the main roads, but the interior areas difficult to access, remain tense,” a district official said, declining to be named.

According to an official estimate, almost 30 houses were burnt on Sunday (February 8) and Monday (February 9). A few people, including a police officer, injured in the violence, are undergoing treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.

The assault of a Tangkhul Naga man by a group of Kuki-Zo people on Saturday night led to a localised conflict. It spread after Naga villagers approached the chief of a Kuki-Zo village on Sunday afternoon and demanded that the culprits be produced before them.

The violence has disrupted road traffic between Ukhrul and the Imphal Valley, a vital alternative to the arterial National Highways, where movement has allegedly been restricted by Kuki-Zo extremist groups.

The Manipur government scheduled a helicopter sortie between Imphal and Ukhrul for Tuesday and another two for Wednesday. These are over and above the regular flight schedule for the convenience of the people, officials said.