resh Violence Feared As Houses Torched In Manipur’s Imphal West; Security Forces Avert Major Clash, Two Held
Imphal: Fresh tensions flared in Imphal West, Manipur, after several houses in the Kanto Sabal area were set on fire, raising fears of a fresh outbreak of violence in the already fragile region.
Officials said two people suspected of involvement in the arson and related mob activity were arrested on Saturday. According to state authorities, one of those detained has been identified as Kammang Lhouvum, chief of Hengjang Village and chairman of the Leimakhong Area Protection Committee, as reported by AP7am.com.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh strongly condemned the attack. In a post mon X, The Chief Minister’s office, stated: “Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh today condemned the arson incident at Kanto Sabal village in Imphal West district and said that two accused individuals, including Kammang Lhouvum, Chief of Hengjang Village and Chairman of Leimakhong Area Protection Committee, have been arrested for involvement in arson and mob violence.”
Singh said the state government had moved swiftly to control the mob, was keeping a close watch on the situation, and had deployed state police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to the area to rein in the unrest. “All security forces stationed there have been instructed to prevent recurrence of su
ch incidents in the future,” the Chief Minister added.
He expressed alarm that the incident had occurred after a prolonged period of calm and warned that it appeared aimed at undermining ongoing peace initiatives. “This incident underscores the presence of certain elements who, driven by vested interests, are actively working against the peace efforts,” he said.
A senior police official said the arson prompted a crowd of nearly 600 men and women to try to move toward the Kanto Sabal area, but security personnel stepped in and blocked their advance, averting what could have been a communal clash. The official also said an attempt by miscreants to set fire to additional abandoned houses was quickly stopped and there were no casualties.
Police have registered a case in connection with the incident, and investigations are continuing. Security forces have remained on high alert and sustained an intensive deployment to maintain law and order in the area.
The blaze triggered panic locally, with hundreds from both Meitei and Naga communities gathering near Kanto Sabal to try to douse the flames. A large presence of Central forces kept the crowd from moving further into the affected area, and tear gas was used to disperse people and prevent the situation from escalating.
Some residents accused security personnel of failing to protect the homes from attackers they identified as suspected Kuki miscreants, saying the houses were torched despite the presence of forces. Locals claimed that many people from the neighbouring Kangpokpi district had come down into parts of Imphal West and set fire to several houses belonging to Meitei families.
The properties had been left vacant since ethnic violence swept Manipur in May 2023. Kanto Sabal lies on the edge of the Imphal Valley next to Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district, a zone regarded as particularly sensitive by security planners.
Authorities said the situation remained tense yet contained, with personnel maintaining a robust presence to prevent further violence.