A CRPF sub-inspector was injured in firing after houses were burnt in Taphou along the Senapati-Kangpokpi border in Manipur
New Delhi: A CRPF sub-inspector sustained a bullet injury to his left foot during an exchange of fire between armed groups in the Taphou area along the Senapati-Kangpokpi border on Monday, after unidentified persons set ablaze or damaged several houses belonging to members of the Kuki and Naga communities in the early hours.
Police and security officials said the first incident of arson occurred around 2.30 a.m. at Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi district. Miscreants torched a pucca residential house belonging to a resident identified in some reports as Paojalun Chongloi. Fire and Emergency Services personnel reached the spot around 3.30 a.m. The fire destroyed the house, along with household belongings and documents. Family members escaped unharmed.
Arson begins at Taphou Kuki
Following the arson, further incidents of vandalism and arson were reported after 4 a.m. in Naga-dominated areas of Senapati district, including Naga Taphou, Liangmai Taphou and Mareimei, as well as nearby settlements such as Lai and Phuba, inhabited by the Poumai Naga community.
Preliminary information suggested that at least one house was set on fire and another was demolished in the affected areas. Officials and local residents described the subsequent incidents as suspected acts of retaliation. Some reports said several houses were targeted on both sides of the sensitive border belt.
The situation escalated around 9.20 a.m. when firing broke out in Taphou Naga as journalists and media personnel covered the burnt and damaged houses. Sub-Inspector (General Duty) Pradeep Singh, 54, of the CRPF’s 36th Battalion, who was deployed at a nearby outpost, sustained a firearm injury to his left foot in the crossfire.
Officials said they could not determine the direction from which the bullet was fired, as shots appeared to have come from both sides. Authorities evacuated Singh to Senapati District Hospital, where doctors treated him and later confirmed that he was out of danger and in stable condition.
Security forces step up presence
A senior police officer confirmed the sequence of events: arson at Taphou Kuki, subsequent burning of houses at Naga Taphou, and the injury to the CRPF personnel during the gunfight between two groups.
Security forces strengthened their deployment in Taphou and adjoining areas of both districts to prevent further escalation. Some residents began leaving the area amid the renewed tension. Police registered a case and began investigating to establish the full extent of the property damage and identify those responsible.
Also Read: Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ Match Ball Sold for $3.35 Million, Know Why It Is So Special*
Locals block National Highway 2
The arson incidents triggered protests. Locals, including Naga volunteers, gathered at the Senapati gate and blocked National Highway 2, the key Imphal-Dimapur route connecting Manipur with Nagaland. They burnt logs and tyres on the highway, disrupting traffic for several hours. The blockade was later lifted after the administration intervened.
The Taphou Kuki Village Authority condemned the burning and destruction of a residential house in the village. It called the incident “deplorable, inhuman and unacceptable” and said it violated the rights and dignity of civilians.
The authority asked the district administration and police to identify the culprits within 24 hours and take legal action. It also gave those involved 24 hours to claim responsibility and resolve the matter under Kuki customary law. It warned that it would not be responsible for any unauthorised incident thereafter.
The authority appealed to all groups to avoid violence, arson and property destruction. It urged them to resolve their grievances through peaceful dialogue.
The Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), Senapati, also expressed concern over repeated incidents in the Taphou area. It said unidentified persons had set fire to a residential building belonging to a Poumai Naga. They had also targeted an abandoned building in Taphou Kuki village.
Kuki organisations, including the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, condemned the arson at Taphou. They linked the incidents to broader tensions in the hills and alleged attempts to create fresh friction. They also called for steps to prevent further disruption to peace efforts.
Background of tension in the area
Officials said the precise reason for the initial attack remained unclear. The Taphou belt has witnessed heightened tensions between Naga and Kuki communities in recent months, particularly over movement, security and control along NH-2. Security forces have intensified their presence across the affected stretches following the latest incidents.
The latest violence comes amid the broader ethnic conflict that has gripped Manipur since May 2023. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced in the unrest, which has largely involved the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. Some hill districts have also witnessed tensions involving Naga communities.
Authorities continued to monitor the situation as police investigated the circumstances surrounding the arson and subsequent exchange of fire. No other casualties were reported.
