Naga-Kuki crossfire: CRPF sub-inspector shot at in Manipur

At around 2:40 am on Monday, fresh violence erupted along the border between Senapati, a predominantly Naga district, and Kangpokpi, a Kuki-Zo dominated district in Manipur. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sub-inspector Pradeep Singh, serving with the 36th Battalion, was on duty at an outpost in Matanmai Naga village, located near the border with Taphou Kuki in Kangpokpi district. Singh sustained a bullet injury to his left foot during the crossfire that ensued.

Preliminary reports indicate that the violence began when a house was allegedly set on fire by unidentified individuals in Taphou Kuki. Emergency services arrived at the scene around 3:30 am. Additional incidents occurred around 4 am in the Mareimei area on the Senapati side, where a house belonging to Nagas was reportedly set ablaze, and another was demolished by unidentified forces.

The situation escalated around 9 am, with firing breaking out. In response, security forces have been deployed in Taphou and surrounding areas to maintain order. The violence has significantly disrupted traffic along the Imphal-Dimapur highway (NH-2), which connects Manipur and Nagaland. Transport services on this crucial route had only resumed last Friday after a three-year hiatus, following the ethnic unrest that erupted in May 2023.