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Fatal Clash Near Sinakeithei and Mullam Villages in Ukhrul; NVG and Two Kuki Militants Killed

by NE Dispatch - Apr 24, 2026 44 Views 0 Comment

A fatal armed clash on April 24 near Sinakeithei and Mullam villages in Ukhrul district left at least one Naga Village Guard and two Kuki militants dead, with multiple civilians injured and homes set ablaze. Tangkhul Naga Long and Kuki CSO Working Committee have have issued conflicting accounts

Fatal Clash in Ukhrul

Note: This report contains sharply conflicting statements from Tangkhul and Kuki community bodies. The facts on the ground remain unverified by independent sources. Readers are advised to monitor official security force updates for confirmation.

IMPHAL – In the early hours of Friday, April 24, 2026, a fatal armed clash occurred in the vicinity of Sinakeithei and Mullam villages in Ukhrul District, Manipur. The incident has left at least three people dead: one Naga Village Guard (NVG) — identified as Horshokmi Jamang, 29 years of age, a resident of Chatric Khullen village, Kamjong — and two Kuki militants killed in Mullam village. Several others sustained injuries and homes were set ablaze. Security forces are currently operating in the LM Block (Lungchong Maiphei Block), Ukhrul District, to stabilise the region and maintain a safe and secured environment. Both the Naga and Kuki communities have issued statements placing responsibility on each other for initiating the violence, and independent verification of the conflicting claims is still awaited.

Reports state BSF personnel arrived in Mullam village at 11:25 hrs on 24 April 2026. Two bodies, believed to be Kuki militants in military fatigue, were reportedly found on the road between Mullam and Shongphel prior to their arrival. Identities of the deceased and circumstances of death remain unconfirmed. Official verification is pending.

Meanwhile, police report identified the deceased as Paominlun Haolai (22) of Haijang village under Singhat Sub-Division in Churachandpur district and Letlal Sitlhou (41) of K Khonom village in Kangpokpi district.

Tangkhul Naga Long: NVG Killed in Kuki SoO Ambush During Patrol

The Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) issued a press communiqué on April 24 expressing profound sadness at the death of Horshokmi Jamang, son of Lungshim Jamang of Chatric Khullen village, Kamjong. The TNL stated that following constant movement and disruption along the Sirarakhong and Sinakeithei areas by armed Kuki cadres operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and other Kuki militant groups, Naga Village Guards posted near Sirarakhong had gone out on patrol between Sirarakhong and Sinakeithei in the wee hours of April 24.

According to the TNL, the patrol was ambushed by Kuki SoO cadres along with other illegal Kuki militants, and Horshokmi Jamang was killed on the spot. The Working Committee described Jamang as having laid down his life defending his rightful land and stated that his death would not be in vain. The TNL extended its sincere condolences to the bereaved family and paid tribute to Jamang's bravery, valour, and ultimate sacrifice.

Mullam Village Authority: Village Attacked by Tangkhul Militants; Homes Burnt, Several Injured

The Mullam Village Authority issued a statement on April 24 presenting a sharply different account of events. The authority stated that at approximately 1:00 a.m., a blank shot was heard near the village. Given the recent pattern of unrest in the area, this did not immediately raise alarm. However, at around 5:30 a.m., the village was subjected to what the authority described as an unprovoked and premeditated assault by Tangkhul militants, involving heavy and indiscriminate firing accompanied by the burning of homes. The statement confirmed that at the time of its issuance, two severely injured persons had been rescued, with additional unconfirmed injuries and one unverified fatality being reported. Two Kuki militants were also killed during the clash at Mullam village.

The Mullam Village Authority placed this attack in the context of a pattern of prior incidents: on April 19, armed militants had reportedly entered Mullam village land in broad daylight and fired blank shots at farmers, causing widespread panic; later the same day, village youths who attempted to approach the group for clarification were met with gunfire, though no casualties were reported. On April 21, another incident of firing targeted farmers, further heightening fear and insecurity. The authority stated that the Mullam community had exercised restraint despite repeated provocations, hoping for peaceful resolution. It also noted that it had issued an urgent warning to the authorities of nearby areas, including Toungou and Sirarakhong, urging intervention and de-escalation, but that these appeals went unheeded. The village authority called upon the government to act immediately, warning that further delay would cost innocent lives.

Kuki CSO Working Committee Ukhrul: Coordinated Offensive Against Multiple Kuki Villages

The Kuki CSO Working Committee, Ukhrul, issued a strongly worded statement on April 24 addressed to the Chief Minister, the Governor of Manipur, the Director General of Police, and the Superintendent of Police, Ukhrul, under the heading 'Who is imposing war on whom?'

The Kuki body alleged that the events of April 24 followed directly from statements issued the previous day by the Working Committee of the TNL and the Central Command of the Naga Village Guard, which it said had demanded the flushing out of Kuki SoO cadres and called upon all Naga commands — Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern — to remain prepared for any eventuality. The Kuki CSO Working Committee argued that these statements could not be viewed in isolation from the coordinated attacks that followed.

According to the Kuki body's account, the attacks of April 24 occurred across multiple locations. At approximately 5:30 a.m., Mullam village came under attack, with houses set ablaze and heavy gunfire injuring at least six civilians, including women. The assault then reportedly escalated toward Shongphel and along the MTP route, in what the statement described as a deliberate attempt to intrude into Mongkot Chepu and nearby Kuki villages. At around 10:00 a.m., Mongkot Chepu was attacked from Lilen Ridge, where high-velocity gunfire targeted civilians, including two individuals riding a scooter toward Mongkot Chepu.

The Kuki CSO Working Committee characterised these incidents as a coordinated and calculated offensive against vulnerable civilian populations, and accused Tangkhul civil society organisations of a repeated pattern of acting and then blaming others. The body alleged that every act of self-defence by Kuki villagers had been systematically misrepresented as aggression, and criticised what it described as the amplification of a distorted narrative through sections of the media. It urged government agencies to act immediately, decisively, and impartially, warning that the continued failure to protect Kuki civilian lives risked further escalation and irreversible loss.

Sinakeithei Village Authority reported civilian injury, alleges continued militant activity

Earlier on April 22, a situation report issued by the Sinaikeithei Village Authority in Ukhrul district has alleged that a 30-year-old villager was injured in firing by suspected Kuki militants on April 22, raising fresh concerns over civilian safety in the region. According to the report, the incident occurred around 4 pm when the victim, identified as Chihangngam Rungsung, was shot from an alleged bunker position on Lungter Hill. The bullet reportedly pierced his heel. The village authority stated that the victim was not engaged in any confrontation but was moving within the village, underscoring what it described as the growing vulnerability of civilians.

The statement further claimed that Sinaikeithei, a Tangkhul Naga village, has been facing sustained armed activity for over two months, with alleged encroachment into village areas and the establishment of bunkers and fortified positions in nearby hill ranges. Despite the presence of Army and security forces and routine patrols, the situation on the ground “remains largely unchanged,” it said.

Villagers have also raised concerns about what they describe as “indiscriminate firing” and the use of explosives, contributing to an atmosphere of fear and instability. The report alleges that while local residents have largely maintained restraint, militant activities have continued.

The village authority also questioned the effectiveness of enforcement by security forces, claiming that warnings issued against initiating fire have not been consistently acted upon. It further pointed to a perceived pattern of aerial surveillance following incidents, which locals believe focuses more on monitoring potential retaliation rather than addressing the source of attacks.

The report alleges that parts of the village have effectively come under militant influence, with residents facing increasing risks to life, property, and livelihood. Security agencies have not yet issued an official response to the claims.

Security Forces Deployed; Conflicting Claims Remain Unverified

Security forces are currently operating in the LM Block (Lungchong Maiphei Block) of Ukhrul District to stabilise the situation. The deaths of at least three individuals — one Naga Village Guard and two Kuki militants — and the injury of several others across the accounts of both communities underscore the gravity of the deteriorating security situation in the area. The conflict in Ukhrul district is part of a broader pattern of escalating inter-community violence in Manipur, which has been ongoing since May 2023.

As of the time of reporting, the conflicting claims of the Tangkhul Naga Long and the Kuki CSO Working Committee Ukhrul — each attributing responsibility for the initiation of violence to the other — have not been independently verified. Official confirmation of the full extent of casualties and the sequence of events is awaited from security forces and district authorities.

 

NVG condemns ambush, calls on Naga youth to defend land and identity

The Naga Village Guards (NVG), Central Command, on Friday strongly condemned an ambush allegedly carried out by Kuki armed cadres under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, which left one NVG member dead in Ukhrul district.

In a statement issued from its headquarters, the NVG said the attack occurred in the early hours near Sinakeithei village. The deceased was identified as Horshokmi Jamang, 29, a resident of Chatric Khullen village in Kamjong district.

According to the statement, a section of NVG personnel stationed at Sirarakhong village had been conducting patrol duties following reports of repeated attacks and increased movement of armed cadres in the surrounding areas when the ambush took place.

The organization described Jamang as a “man of valour” who died defending his ancestral land. He is survived by his wife and a 10-month-old child.

The NVG Central Command expressed condolences to the bereaved family and said his sacrifice “will not go in vain.”

The group also reiterated its commitment to defending “land and identity without compromise,” adding that it would continue to resist adversaries until “victory is achieved.”

Citing what it termed a “grave challenge,” the NVG issued an appeal to Naga youth, urging them to come forward and join efforts to defend their people and territory.

The statement further raised concerns over continued activity by armed groups operating under the SoO pact with the Government of India, particularly in peripheral areas of Naga villages.

There was no immediate response from the groups named in the statement or from security agencies.

Tensions have remained high in parts of Manipur following a series of incidents involving armed groups and local defense volunteers, with sporadic violence reported in hill districts in recent months.

 

 

Tags:
Manipur Ukhrul Conflict Manipur Crisis 2023 Arm Militants 2026 Kuki Tangkhul Sinakeithei Mulam
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