Manipur: CRPF officer injured in crossfire, two houses torched in fresh clashes
Imphal: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sub-inspector sustained bullet injuries, and at least two houses were set ablaze after violence erupted between two groups in Manipur on Monday (August 24, 2026). The incident occurred in the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district and the adjoining Naga-dominated Senapati district, officials told reporters in the state capital.
According to officials, unknown miscreants burnt a house in Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi district in the early hours of Monday. Soon after, another house was torched in Taphou Naga village in Senapati district. The two villages are located in areas with distinct ethnic demographics, and tensions between the communities have been simmering for months.
As the situation escalated, two groups exchanged fire after 9 a.m. A CRPF sub-inspector, deployed to maintain order, was caught in the crossfire and sustained a gunshot wound. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital, where his condition is stated to be stable, according to security officials.
In response to the violence, local residents in Senapati district blocked National Highway-2, also known as the Imphal-Dimapur (Nagaland) Road, for a few hours. The blockade disrupted traffic and raised concerns about the movement of civilians through the region. Later, security forces heightened their presence along the highway and in vulnerable villages in both districts to prevent further escalation.
The Taphou Kuki village authority issued a statement condemning the arson attack as “highly deplorable, inhuman, and unacceptable”. The authority appealed to individuals and groups to refrain from violence, destruction of property, and any actions that could worsen the suffering of the people. “We urge the district administration, police, and other competent authorities to take immediate and appropriate action to investigate the incident, identify those responsible, and ensure that justice is delivered in accordance with the law,” the statement read.
Amid the unrest, public transport services along NH-2 continued for the third consecutive day on Monday. More than 250 passengers, including women and children, left Imphal for Dimapur and Guwahati in five buses and seven vans under foolproof security arrangements. A Manipur government statement said the departures were delayed due to the situation in Senapati district earlier in the day. Adequate security personnel and road-opening parties were deployed on vulnerable stretches of the highway to ensure the free and safe movement of vehicles.
“However, timely intervention by the government and public support prevented the situation from escalating further, and the vehicles left for Dimapur and Guwahati at around 1 p.m. Both sides involved have agreed to maintain peace in the area,” the statement added. Meanwhile, about 100 passengers who started their journey from Guwahati on Sunday reached Imphal on Monday afternoon, with no untoward incidents reported along the way.
This latest outbreak of violence is part of a pattern of recurring ethnic clashes in Manipur, where tensions between the Kuki-Zomi and Meitei communities have led to numerous incidents over the past several years. The state has witnessed periods of unrest, with security forces often tasked with separating hostile groups and protecting civilian lives. The government has repeatedly called for dialogue and restraint, but sporadic incidents continue to challenge the peace process.
As investigations into Monday's incidents are underway, both security officials and local community leaders have stressed the importance of maintaining calm. The deployment of additional forces along the highway and in the affected villages is intended to reassure residents and prevent further violence. The situation is being closely monitored by the district administrations of Kangpokpi and Senapati.
