Myanmar-based Kuki ultras attack Naga villages in Manipur

GUWAHATI

Myanmar-based Kuki extremists allegedly carried out a pre-dawn attack on Naga villages in the ethnic conflict-hit Manipur’s Kamjong district on Thursday (May 7, 2026).

Kamjong borders Myanmar. The district headquarters of the same name is about 120 km east of Manipur’s capital, Imphal.

According to an apex body of the Tangkhul Nagas, at least 100 heavily armed men attacked three villages — Choro, Wanglee, and Namlee — located close to the international border, fired indiscriminately, and set 18 houses ablaze.

Two civilians sustained bullet injuries while several others were rounded up at gunpoint and tortured by the armed men, the Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) said in a statement.

The TNL alleged that the Kuki National Army-Burma, backed by the People’s Defence Force (an anti-junta Myanmar armed group), carried out the coordinated attacks on the three villages.

Civilian areas bombed

“The Tangkhul Naga villages were raided and overrun at about 3.30 a.m. The civilian settlements were also heavily bombed with drones, rocket launchers, and lathode (breach-loading 40 mm) guns, destroying several houses while some were razed to the ground. Moreover, the villagers were looted and fired upon by the Myanmar-based Kuki militants,” the TNL stated.

“The unfortunate incidents occurred just about 200 metres from the 11 Assam Rifles company stationed between Choro and Aloyo,” the TNL said.

The organisation said the external aggression on Indian soil created panic, fear, and insecurity among Indian villagers, rendering them homeless. The villagers were reportedly taking shelter in a jungle, with many others remaining missing.

Local MLA Leishiyo Keishing, who represents the Phungyar constituency, condemned the attacks. Citing the affected villagers, he said the assailants abducted at least two people, including a man, before slipping back into Myanmar.

Assam Rifles criticised

The TNL said the external aggression was shocking, as the border villagers provided food and shelter to hundreds of civilians who sought refuge following a violent resistance movement against the Myanmar military regime.

The Nagas criticised the Assam Rifles, which guards the India-Myanmar border. They alleged that the paramilitary force failed to keep the people and the border safe from external aggression. “The safety and security of the villagers residing along the India-Myanmar border has been blatantly compromised, and the Centre must take immediate action and own responsibility for the strategic security failure,” the TNL said.

Manipur’s population is largely composed of the non-tribal Meiteis, who are the majority in the Imphal Valley, and the tribal Kukis and Nagas, who share the hills. Tangkhul Nagas dominate Kamjong and the adjoining Ukhrul districts.

There have been intermittent conflicts between the Kuki and Tangkhul Nagas in these two districts since the first week of February. The conflict has claimed at least four lives, while dozens of houses have been torched.

Manipur has been burning since May 3, 2023, when the conflict between the Kukis and Meiteis broke out. At least 260 people died, and 62,000 others were displaced in this conflict.