Web Desk: Fresh clashes broke out between Indian Army personnel and local residents in parts of Manipur, further escalating tensions. At least 17 people were killed and 87 others injured in the violence, local sources reported.
Violence erupted in Litan village following renewed tensions between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki groups. Residents reported that attackers set fire to between 30 and 50 houses, forcing families to flee as flames engulfed large sections of the village.
Authorities imposed a curfew and suspended internet services for five days in an effort to contain the unrest. However, sporadic violence continued despite the restrictions.
The situation remains volatile, with security forces deployed across sensitive areas. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with deserted streets and heavy patrols reinforcing what many residents called “war-like” conditions.
Indian Army and paramilitary forces have come under repeated attack in Manipur as ethnic unrest and insurgent activity intensify across the northeastern state. In one of the deadliest recent incidents, unidentified gunmen ambushed an Assam Rifles convoy in Bishnupur district, killing two personnel and wounding five others.
In a separate attack near the India–Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district, militants opened fire on a patrol, injuring four soldiers. A banned Meitei insurgent outfit later claimed responsibility for a drone-assisted strike on an Assam Rifles outpost, marking a significant escalation in tactics.
The assaults come amid broader violence that has gripped Manipur since 2023, with recurring clashes between rival communities and security forces deployed to restore order. Authorities have imposed curfews and suspended internet services at various times, but tensions remain high.
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