Tensions between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur’s Ukhrul district escalated for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, with miscreants torching at least nine to ten houses in Litan area and opening fire in an apparent attempt to intimidate villagers, The Hindu reported. Many residents have reportedly abandoned their homes for safer locations as fear spreads through the conflict zone.
In response, the Manipur government ordered the suspension of all internet and data services, including broadband, VPN, and VSAT, in Ukhrul district for five days starting 11:30 am, Tuesday. Home Commissioner-cum-Secretary N. Ashok Kumar cited “apprehension that some anti-social elements might misuse social media with images, posts, and videos to incite passion,” calling the suspension a preventive measure amid a volatile law and order situation.
The unrest began on the night of Saturday, February 7, with the alleged assault of a Tangkhul Naga man by a group of Kuki-Zo individuals. The incident escalated the following day after Naga villagers approached the chief of a Kuki-Zo village demanding accountability. Local sources reported that similar acts of arson and intimidation also occurred on Sunday and Monday, with roughly 30 houses destroyed. A few individuals, including a police officer injured in the violence, are undergoing treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh appealed to both communities to maintain peace, while a legislative delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho visited the Litan area, holding meetings with community leaders and urging restraint. A district official, speaking anonymously to TH, said: “The situation is under control along the main roads, but the interior areas, difficult to access, remain tense.”
Civil society and community organizations have also called for caution. The Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust described the incident as an “isolated altercation involving a few drunken individuals” that risks being communalized, urging both communities to prevent escalation into a wider ethnic confrontation.
Meanwhile, the Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (TMNL) expressed concerns over the selective internet suspension. In a letter to the Chief Minister, the association noted that tensions may also affect adjoining Kuki-inhabited districts, including Kangpokpi and Churachandpur, citing reports of armed groups moving along highways, checking vehicles, and disseminating information. TMNL highlighted the inconvenience caused to students, patients, government employees, and ordinary residents, requesting that any regulatory measures be applied fairly and uniformly across all affected areas.
Kangpokpi District Incident
The K Lungwiram Village Authority (KLVA) reported an incident on the night of February 9 in which a residence in the village was allegedly set on fire by a group of around 30 youths from a nearby village. KLVA described the event as a serious breach of law and order and called for urgent government intervention, including deployment of neutral security forces and relief measures for affected residents. Authorities are investigating the incident.
Community warnings and appeals
The Liangmai Naga Council, Eastern Zone (LNC-EZ), has condemned recent incidents in Ukhrul and Kangpokpi and urged authorities to act swiftly to prevent further escalation. While the council warned of possible retaliatory measures should security not be ensured, it emphasized that government intervention is key to restoring stability.
Similarly, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex body of the Tangkhul Naga community, issued an emergency alert advising residents and travelers in affected areas to remain vigilant. The TNL highlighted reports of gunfire and vehicle checks in certain areas and called on all community members to follow precautionary measures to avoid further harm.
Government response
To ensure connectivity and safe movement, the Manipur government has scheduled helicopter sorties between Imphal and Ukhrul on Tuesday and Wednesday, supplementing regular flights disrupted by the unrest.
Internet ban extended in two Manipur Sub Divisions
Meanwhile, according to the latest reports, the Manipur state government has further extended the internet ban in the entire revenue jurisdiction of Lhungtin Sub Division of Kangpokpi district and Phungyar Sub Division of Kamjong district for five days as a preventive and precautionary measure, with immediate effect from 5.30 pm on February 10, 2026.