Imphal: Several acres of banana plantations were extensively damaged on Friday when unknown miscreants set fire to an orchard in Kangpokpi district, Manipur, destroying ripening fruits and damaging farmhouses.
Reports indicate that more than six acres of banana plantations, mostly at the ripening stage, were burnt on the hillside of Songjang Waphong village in the Kangchup Geljang sub-division. The village, inhabited by the Zeliangrong Naga community, relies heavily on banana cultivation for their livelihood.
The miscreants reportedly set the orchard ablaze around 10 a.m., destroying the fruits and rendering them unfit for market or consumption. In addition, several huts and farmhouses were reduced to ashes.
This incident follows a similar act of arson on January 26, 2026, when the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) claimed responsibility for burning farmhouses in the Songlung area. While initial reports attributed Friday’s attack to armed Kukis, investigations are ongoing.
These incidents come amid continuing ethnic tensions in Manipur, particularly over land use and alleged poppy cultivation in Kangpokpi district, highlighting the fragile security situation in the region.