Clash in Nagaland leaves 19 homes destroyed and one dead

Kohima: A clash between the Yimkhiung and Tikhir communities left one person dead and decimated Zaonger village. The violence broke out October 10 in the Pungro sub-division of Kiphire, Nagaland. A damage report from the district administration confirms 19 houses were burned and 21 others vandalized during the riot. Nineteen vehicles, including 13 motorcycles, suffered destruction.

Pungro Additional Deputy Commissioner Hotolu Sema led a team to the village on Monday. They worked with police and the Pungro Area Public Forum to document the scene and collect belongings left by those forced to flee. These items now sit at the Pungro police station. Officials ordered the station to keep the property secure until it returns to the rightful owners.

Local civil society groups assisted in the recovery effort. The administration said, "Security had been tightened around Zaonger village and the situation was being closely monitored, with civilian safety, damage assessment and assistance for displaced residents remaining priorities." Authorities continue to track the area to prevent further bloodshed.

Updated at 14th October 2026 at 1:48am

The Tikhir Union Zaonger Village is pushing back against accusations leveled by the Zaonger Mihkhung Arihako (ZMA), labeling them misleading and at odds with official government findings. According to the Union, the dispute between the two communities has already undergone scrutiny by the DBs Court and was reviewed by the Commissioner and the Home Commissioner of Nagaland. These proceedings followed a January 2022 memorandum of understanding between the Tikhir Tribal Council and the Yimkhiung Tribal Council.

The union maintains these official processes confirm the Tikhir community holds a legitimate standing in Zaonger and that residents retain their right to celebrate traditional festivals, such as Tikhir Tsonglaknyi. They are calling on the ZMA to stop circulating what they describe as unsubstantiated claims and to honor the existing agreements between the tribal councils.