Manipur: Villagers Set Kuki Militant Camp Ablaze After UKLF's Arson Attack On Abandoned Houses And Gunfight

The villagers were venting their anger after militants burnt down at least 100 abandoned houses including the residence of Sugnu Congress MLA K Ranjit.

In a display of furious anger, irate villagers set ablaze an abandoned camp in Sugnu, located in Manipur's Kakching district, where militants from the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) had taken refuge following a recent peace accord with the government. The incident occurred on Sunday night, PTI quoting local law enforcement authorities confirmed. The villagers' outrage stemmed from a retaliatory act by the militants, who burned down more than 100 abandoned houses, including the residence of Sugnu Congress MLA K Ranjit, in the neighbouring Serou area of Kakching district on Saturday midnight.

Over the past two days, the region has been marred by a near-constant exchange of gunfire between the militants and security forces, according to police reports.

Prior to the arson attack, a joint operation involving the state police, the India Reserve Battalion, the Border Security Force, and village volunteers engaged in a gun battle with the militants at the Nazareth camp on Sunday. The encounter forced the militants to flee their camp.

Following the militants' retreat, the enraged villagers took matters into their own hands and set fire to the camp on Sunday night. The camp, which also served as a training facility for newly recruited Kuki militants, was consumed by the blaze.

Additional reports indicate that a fierce exchange of gunfire also occurred in Phayeng, located in the Imphal West district, on Sunday. During the same time, Kuki militants set fire to a sawmill.

These recent acts of violence come in the wake of a month-long ethnic conflict in Manipur, which has claimed the lives of at least 98 individuals, with 310 others sustaining injuries. Currently, a total of 37,450 people are seeking refuge in 272 relief camps.

The clashes initially erupted on May 3, following a "Tribal Solidarity March" organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. 

The Meiteis makeup roughly 53 per cent of Manipur's population and primarily reside in the Imphal Valley, while the Nagas and Kukis, who comprise approximately 40 per cent of the population, inhabit the hill districts.

To restore peace and stability to the region, around 10,000 personnel from the Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed in Manipur. Their presence aims to quell the escalating tensions and prevent further violence from erupting.