Full Breakdown
Arson Attacks Burn 41 Naga Homes and Churches in Manipur’s Kangpokpi District
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The Night of Violence
Around 2:30 pm on September 23, 2026, armed clashes erupted in the Makui area of Kangpokpi district, Manipur. The unrest continued for roughly twelve hours, ending near 2:30 am on September 24. During that span, at least 41 Naga-owned houses—including several churches—were set ablaze in the villages of Makui Chamriupui (17 houses), Makui Thanamba (8 houses), Makui Thebram (16 houses), and additional arson reports from Langka, Kapningching and Tajeikaiphun. Villagers said they tried to stay in their homes but were forced to flee as the fires spread, seeking refuge in nearby Makui village and temporary shelters such as Makui Khunjao.
Scale of Destruction and Casualties
Local sources tallied a total of 41 structures destroyed, encompassing both residential dwellings and places of worship. The exact number of human casualties remains unconfirmed. Security personnel cited in the reports stated that no large-scale civilian deaths were verified, noting that many residents had already evacuated after earlier warnings.
Reactions from the Community and Security Forces
The authority linked the attacks to an earlier incident on August 27, 2026, when four Makui villagers were killed in an ambush between Makui Ashang and Thanamba.
Villagers alleged that Kuki militants, operating under a suspension-of-operations (SoO) agreement with the government, carried out the attacks. Security forces—including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB)—were reported to be stationed within a ten-kilometre radius of the affected villages, but villagers criticized the forces for not intervening to stop the prolonged violence.
Humanitarian Consequences
Displaced families, many of them women, children and the elderly, reported shortages of food, shelter and basic necessities after fleeing their burning homes. The loss of churches compounds the hardship, as these structures serve both religious and community functions for the Naga population. Authorities are assessing the full extent of the damage while displaced residents seek emergency assistance.