Manipur Arson: Village Chief Arrested as Security Forces Prevent Communal Clash
Two individuals, including a village chief, have been arrested after vacant houses belonging to the Meitei community were set on fire in a village near Leimakhong in Manipur, authorities said on [date]. The incident occurred amid ongoing ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the region.
The Manipur Police identified the arrested persons as Kammang Lhouvum, 65, and Pagin Hangshing, 30. Lhouvum is the chief of Hengjang village and chairman of the Leimakhong Area Protection Committee. Police said they are searching for additional suspects who are still at large.
The arson took place in a village near Leimakhong, where a crowd of about 600 people also attempted to advance toward an illegally erected barricade set up by another community in Kanto Sabal, according to the Indian Army. A joint team of state police and central forces intervened to prevent the situation from escalating into a full-scale communal clash.
A defence spokesperson stated that when the crowd advanced toward the illegal blockade, army and police personnel separated the opposing groups. During the intervention, some members of the crowd threw stones at security forces, but the forces exercised restraint and brought the situation under control. The spokesperson confirmed that the area is now calm.
The three structures that were set on fire were among several abandoned houses of the Meitei community in the neighbourhood. The residents had left during the peak of the ethnic conflict that erupted in May 2023. The Kanto Sabal and Leimakhong areas have witnessed heightened ethnic tension between the Meitei community and Kuki tribes.
Manipur Chief Minister Khemchand Yumnam strongly condemned the violence and described it as a deliberate attempt by “vested interests” to derail the peace process. “This incident, after a prolonged period of peace, appears to be an attempt by vested interests to disrupt the ongoing peace process. I urge everyone to remain calm, avoid rumours, and cooperate with the authorities,” he said in a statement.
The ethnic conflict in Manipur began in May 2023 after a court order proposed extending Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community, leading to widespread violence between Meiteis and Kukis. Since then, hundreds have been killed and thousands displaced. The recent arson and attempted clash highlight the fragile nature of the peace in the region.
Security forces remain on alert to prevent any further incidents. Investigations into the arson and the illegal barricade are ongoing.
