Fifty houses were burnt in Litan village of Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Tuesday in a fresh escalation of violence between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities, after which authorities suspended internet in the district for five days, officials said on Tuesday.
Security personnel are deployed after a property in Ukhrul’s Liton village on Monday following violent clashes between the Tangkhul and Kuki tribes. (ANI Video Grab)Village tension erupted on Saturday when a group from each community clashed in Litan village in which a man from Sakibung village, Sterling Shimre, was injured. District Magistrate Ashish Das imposed a curfew in the area on Sunday.
“According to reports from reliable sources there is an apprehension which may disturb peace and public order between two communities i.e. Tangkhul and Kuki in Litan village,” the order said.
But in defiance of the order, unidentified suspects torched more than 18 houses in the neighborhood between Monday and Tuesday night, taking the total number of burnt houses to around 50 till Tuesday morning.
A massive exchange of fire took place between the two groups in the area around Liton village. Tight security has been deployed in the area to keep the situation normal.
More Read
The Manipur Home Department on Tuesday issued a prohibitory order for a five-day internet suspension in Ukhrul district due to concerns that anti-social elements may use social media to send provocative pictures, posts and video messages.
A temporary internet suspension has been issued on the request of the District Magistrate. The Commissioner (Home), Government of Manipur said in his letter, “Recent events have caused significant disruption in the district, posing a threat to public safety and peace. To manage the situation effectively and prevent the spread of misinformation that could escalate tensions, it is imperative to immediately suspend internet services in the district.”
Meanwhile, a minor incident of firing took place in K Lungwiram village of Kangpokpi district, resulting in partial damage to a residential house, officials said on Tuesday. Nearby security forces quickly reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Officials said the cause of the incident is under investigation and the overall situation is normal.
More Read
The Consaram Village Authority (KVA) condemned the incident and appealed to the state and central governments to take immediate steps to deploy security, relief measures and restore law and order.
“Rumours circulated on social media claiming that residents of Konshakhul fled to Kanto Sabal in Imphal West district after the Litan incident. None of the villagers moved, except some students and families who sought temporary rental accommodation as the new school session began,” the police said in a statement, urging the public not to believe or spread falsehoods.
