IMPHAL:Dozens of houses and govt quarters were burnt down as violence broke out in Litan village in Manipur’s Ukhrul after clashes between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki tribal communities escalated late on Sunday.Hundreds of residents fled on Monday as Ukhrul district administration banned the display of firearms, warning that licenses will be suspended for violations.
Heavy security deployment continues with the situation remaining tense, authorities said as they closely monitor developments.More than 20 houses belonging to both communities were set ablaze by angry rioters, while several private vehicles and government quarters were also set on fire.The unrest began Saturday after a Tangkhul man, Sterling Shimray, was allegedly assaulted by a group of Kuki men. He is undergoing treatment at RIMS in Imphal. What started as a minor altercation spiralled into full-blown violence, with sounds of intermittent firing reported and miscreants torching homes at Litan Bazar.Residents were seen evacuating with belongings as authorities scrambled to restore order. Deputy CM Losii Dikho chaired an emergency meeting at Litan Police Station, joined by MLAs Ram Muivah (Tangkhul) and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing (Kuki) on Monday.“This violence stems from a few individuals. Both sides want peace and harmony. The government will arrest the culprits and restore calm,” Dikho said.CM Yumnam Khemchand visited the injured victim at RIMS earlier in the day and appealed to both communities to maintain peace. Minister Konthoujam Govindas confirmed additional security forces have been deployed.The Litan Sareikhong Village Authority in a media communique’ appealed for communal harmony between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities and condemned the violence, stressing that what began as a minor altercation involving intoxicated individuals should not be communalised. It urged both communities to exercise restraint and maintain peace.They said that instead of a peaceful resolution, a group of heavily armed villagers from Sikibung allegedly launched a violent attack on the residence of the chief. Despite police intervention, the attackers continued their actions, targeting the house of the individual involved in the initial scuffle.
