Violence has resurfaced in Manipur’s hills after armed assailants opened fire on Naga villagers working in a paddy field at Langka Naga village in Kangpokpi district on August 14.
Two Naga civilians were killed and two others were injured in the attack, according to multiple local reports. The incident has triggered fresh tension between Naga and Kuki communities in an area that has already witnessed repeated violence this year.
Naga Farmers Targeted in Langka
The attack reportedly took place around 7:30 am when villagers were engaged in agricultural work. Local sources said more than 40 armed men carrying sophisticated weapons entered the area and opened fire.
The victims were identified as Wiriliangbou Chawang and Kawidinang Abonmai, while Maliangjinang Abonmai and Namthiulungbou Prinmai were injured. Security forces subsequently launched search and cordon operations.
Some reports have attributed the attack to Kuki militant groups, including groups operating under the Suspension of Operations arrangement.
Not the First Attack on Naga Villages
The latest incident is particularly concerning because Langka Naga had already come under attack in June.
On June 13, armed Kuki groups allegedly attacked Langka Naga village using firearms and explosives, triggering an exchange of fire with Naga village volunteers. Houses and farm structures were reportedly damaged during the violence.
There have also been other attacks on Naga civilians in the region.
On June 8, Rongmei Naga villager and village guard Chunjanglung Panmei was killed after armed men allegedly opened fire on villagers collecting firewood and repairing a water pipeline in Kangpokpi. Naga organisations accused Kuki militants of carrying out the attack, although the perpetrators have not been independently established.
The pattern has therefore become difficult to dismiss as an isolated incident.
Tensions Are Spreading Across the Hills
The violence comes amid a broader deterioration in relations between Naga and Kuki communities.
In June, six Naga men who had reportedly been abducted in Kangpokpi were found dead, further inflaming tensions. Later violence included attacks on villages belonging to both communities.
The United Naga Council responded to the latest killings by calling a 24-hour shutdown across Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, reflecting the anger generated by the attack.
Security Challenge Intensifies
The latest incident comes even as security forces continue extensive operations across Manipur.
The state police have reported large recoveries of illegal weapons and explosives and hundreds of arrests in recent operations. Yet continued attacks on civilians show that armed groups remain capable of operating in sensitive areas.
For ordinary farmers, the danger is particularly stark. Villagers working in fields or collecting firewood should not have to operate under the threat of armed attacks.
The immediate priority is to identify the perpetrators, protect vulnerable villages and prevent the latest killings from triggering another cycle of retaliation.
Manipur has already paid a heavy price for prolonged violence. Further attacks on civilians can only push the state deeper into instability.