Violence erupts along Indo-Myanmar border as villages burn

Imphal: Violence flared Wednesday along the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Kamjong district. Armed groups torched multiple villages, sending residents running for cover in the woods. Houses in the Tangkhul Naga villages of Kongkan Thana and Shangkalok were set ablaze after attacks by suspected Kuki cadres crossing the border.

A separate attack hit the Kuki village of Phaimol. Flames gutted the settlement during the early morning hours. Reports point to fighters from the NSCN-IM and the Shanni Nationalities Army as the culprits behind the destruction.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur condemned the arson. The group claimed that Assam Rifles troops abandoned their post near Phaimol just one day before the village burned. They want answers. The organization called for a transparent inquiry and slammed the security gaps, stating, "The organisation called for a transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal and sought accountability for what it described as lapses in security."

Security forces are on high alert now. Local people want more troops on the ground to block cross-border incursions. They need protection. Officials are monitoring the area, but fear of further bloodshed remains high.