Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: Fresh tension gripped parts of Manipur on Thursday after heavily armed militants attacked and set fire to villages in Kamjong district along the Indo-Myanmar border, prompting Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to review the law and order situation with senior BSF officials.
The review meeting, held at the Secretariat, focused on “emerging challenges in view of recent disturbances”, with discussions centred on coordinated and proactive security measures to address the evolving situation, according to the Chief Minister.
The violence was reported from border villages in Kamjong district where armed militants allegedly targeted Namlee, Wanglee and Choro in the early hours of Thursday. Residents said several houses were set ablaze, triggering panic and mass displacement.
Local accounts stated that two houses in Namlee and at least three to four houses in Wanglee were reduced to ashes. Villagers further alleged that most houses in Choro were destroyed, except for a church which remained intact.
Amid the violence, a Tangkhul Naga woman, identified as Olina Ningshen from Kangpat village, is reported missing. Three Myanmar nationals who had taken shelter at Wanglee Market were also unaccounted for. However, another Tangkhul civilian, Zingran Ningshen, secretary of Wanglee Market, who was earlier reported missing, returned to Wanglee village around 7.30 p.m. on Thursday.
Reacting to the incident, Singh said he “strongly condemn[s] the violence” in the border villages, describing the attacks as “deeply concerning and unacceptable”.
In a Facebook post, the Chief Minister said he was “closely monitoring the situation” and had directed security forces to take “all necessary measures to restore peace and prevent any further escalation”.
He added that the government remained committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and warned that “strict action will be taken against those responsible”.
Sharing details of the review meeting, Singh said the government had “reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to maintaining peace, stability and public safety across Manipur”.
Naga People’s Front (NPF) MLA L. Keishing had earlier alleged that the attack was carried out by Myanmar-based militant groups, including the Kuki National Army (Burma) and the People’s Defence Force (PDF), operating from across the international border.
More than 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced in the continuing conflict, which persists across several districts despite repeated security interventions by state and central forces.