UKHRUL — A fresh wave of Manipur violence erupted in the early hours of Friday, April 24, 2026, as armed militants launched a lethal pre-dawn attack on the Kuki-dominated village of Mulam. Located in the Ukhrul district, the village faced a coordinated assault that began with harassing fire around 1:00 AM. However, the situation turned critical at approximately 5:30 AM when heavily armed assailants moved in, opening indiscriminate fire and setting several residential houses ablaze. Local sources confirmed that two Kuki village guards, identified as Letlal (43) and Paominlun Haoli (19), were killed while attempting to defend the locality.
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) described the incident as a premeditated violation of basic human rights. In a retaliatory exchange, village volunteers reportedly repelled the attackers, resulting in the death of one assailant, later identified as Horshokmi Jamang (29). This escalation of Manipur violence signals a dangerous new faultline between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki-Zo communities. While Nagas had largely remained neutral in the broader state conflict, this direct confrontation in Ukhrul poses a severe challenge to the newly formed government led by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
Escalating Tensions and Previous Warning Signs
The tragic events in Mulam did not occur in a vacuum. Over the past week, residents reported multiple instances of intimidation that foreshadowed the current Manipur violence. On April 19, armed men allegedly entered farmland in Mulam and fired blank shots to terrorize local farmers. A similar incident occurred on April 21, effectively halting agricultural activity in the region. Despite these warnings, villagers claim that security response was inadequate, allowing the militants to execute the Friday morning raid with relative ease.
Moreover, the recent Manipur violence comes just weeks after a horrific rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack in Tronglaobi on April 7. That strike claimed the lives of two young children and triggered massive protests across the Imphal Valley. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is currently investigating the Tronglaobi bombing, which has further polarized the state. As ethnic mistrust deepens, even traditional hill tribes like the Nagas are being drawn into the cycle of aggression, complicating the peace process that has already seen over 260 lives lost since 2023.
COTU Demands Justice and Impartial Probe
The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) issued a stern condemnation following the Mulam attack. In a press note released late Friday, the organization expressed grave concern over the rising Manipur violence among hill communities. COTU claimed that the assault injured several villagers, including women and children, who are currently receiving medical treatment. They urged the state government to conduct an impartial investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable. Failure to do so, they warned, could lead to a total breakdown of order across the remaining stable districts.
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Additionally, the organization appealed to central security agencies to curb armed activities in both the hill and valley areas. They emphasized that repeated incidents over the last three years have severely strained inter-community relations. The group called for immediate dialogue and restraint to prevent the Manipur violence from engulfing the entire Northeast region. Currently, the Litan police station has filed multiple FIRs under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder and dacoity, though no arrests have been made so far.
Restoring Peace in a Divided State
As the sun set on a tense Friday, additional units of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were deployed to the Kuki-Naga periphery. The state government has also restricted mobile data in sensitive zones to prevent the spread of inflammatory content. However, the recurring nature of Manipur violence suggests that temporary security measures may not be enough. Authentic reconciliation and the disarming of militant groups remain the only viable path toward normalcy. For the families of those killed in Mulam, the road to justice remains long and uncertain.