Two people were arrested on Saturday for allegedly torching six houses in Manipur’s Kantu Sabal village, a Mitti village in Kangpokpi district, followed by escalating tensions in the area, police said.
“In regard to the case registered regarding mob nuisance and attempt by miscreants to set fire to abandoned houses today at Kantu Sabal, Limakhong District, the following individuals were arrested by joint teams of Manipur Police, CRPF, RAF and Army: Kamang Luvum (65) S/O (L) Phombau Luvum, Head of Hingganj Village, Chairman, Limakhong Area Protection Committee (LAPC) and Bajin “S/O Lunpao Hangshing, a resident of Khunkho Kuki village, is making efforts to arrest other individuals involved,” Manipur Police said on X.
According to officials, the incident occurred around 1.45 pm. The houses that were set on fire had been abandoned since May 2023. Officials said that a large group of people protesting the inter-district economic blockade of Kangbukpi district, an area dominated by Kuki, set fire to the houses. Kantu Sabal falls within the limits of Sekmai Police Station in Imphal West.
Informed people said that tensions escalated between residents trying to put out the fire and the Central Security Forces, which led to the injury of three civilians.
The owners of the burnt houses have been identified as L Sanathwi (21), L Rajesh (36), L Rahul (31), L Nongchitombi, T Leri (80) and Kanjam Juni (75).
Following the incident, residents organized a protest, accusing the Central Security Forces of failing to prevent the arson despite their deployment near the area. The demonstrators also questioned why they were denied access to the site while homes were being burned.
However, security forces succeeded in preventing a potentially dangerous communal clash after a large group of people tried to advance towards Sabal Canto, people familiar with the matter said. Authorities said the situation was under control before the violence expanded.
Officials also reported that unidentified persons attempted to set fire to other abandoned homes in the area, but the rapid intervention of security forces prevented the fire from spreading. No deaths were reported.
A case has been registered and investigation is underway.
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The security forces appealed to all communities to maintain peace, refrain from spreading rumours, and cooperate with the authorities in maintaining law and order.
A senior security official, who requested anonymity, said: “We have launched a joint search operation in and around the Kanto Sabal area to identify and arrest those willing.”
Meanwhile, many civil society organizations criticized the handling of the incident.
Sangeeta Kesham, a member of Ubonba Emma Loop, questioned the state government’s response, saying that despite recent efforts to recover weapons from the valley, attacks on Meitei settlements continued. She urged the Chief Minister and the state Home Minister to ensure equal application of the law and adequate security for all communities.
Imagi Mira president Th Sujata alleged that security personnel prevented residents from accessing their homes while the arson was taking place and later used force to disperse the protesters. She called on both state and central governments to ensure impartial action by all security agencies, and said those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice.
The latest incident comes amid ongoing efforts by authorities to restore normalcy in Manipur, where ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023 has killed at least 260 people and displaced 60,000.
The Metis people, most of whom are Hindu, live largely in the Imphal Valley. The Kuki family, most of whom are Christians, reside in the hills. The state government confirmed that there are no buffer zones dividing communities in the state, but it has identified some sensitive areas.
In February, a new government was formed, almost a year after “presidential rule” was imposed. It includes representatives of the three main communities as part of an attempt to maintain ethnic balance.
