India
Three Naga Militants Killed in Manipur Clash, No Casualties in Subsequent Road Attack
Three militants were killed and at least four others injured in a gunfight between rival Naga groups in Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday morning. The clash occurred in Taodaijang village between the Zeliangrong United Front‑Jenchui (ZUF‑J) and a combined team of the Zeliangrong United Front‑Kamson (ZUF‑K) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN‑IM). Two of the dead were from ZUF‑J, a signatory of a cessation of operations (CoO) agreement with the Centre, and one was from ZUF‑K. The fighting followed a statement from ZUF‑K on November 1 accusing ZUF‑J of collaborating with security forces. ZUF‑J had signed a cessation of operation with the Centre in 2022. NSCN‑IM, headquartered at Hebron in Nagaland, is a long‑standing pan‑Naga armed and political group that seeks a unified homeland, “Nagalim”, covering Naga‑inhabited areas of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Myanmar. It has a significant presence in Manipur, the home state of its supremo, Th Muivah. ZUF was formed in 2011 to represent the Zeliangrong people, a major Naga community comprising the Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei, and operates primarily in localised pockets, mainly in Tamenglong and Noney districts in Manipur.
Hours later, at about 4:45 pm, suspected militants opened fire on passenger vehicles and a goods‑laden truck near TM Kasom village in Ukhrul district. The vehicles were heading to Ukhrul from Imphal and had been escorted by security forces up to Litan, after which the personnel withdrew. The firing, using sophisticated arms, reportedly lasted nearly ten minutes. Passengers took cover and all occupants escaped without physical injuries.
In Kangpokpi district, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) in Sadar Hills extended its total shutdown by 48 hours, until 5 pm on November 6, accusing the government of failing to act decisively over the killing of two Kuki‑Zo civilians and of not implementing its charter of demands.
The violence comes a day after Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh directed security agencies to identify active armed groups, excluding those engaged in peace talks with the state government, suspected of involvement in the recent violence. He asked agencies, including the Army and central paramilitary forces, to report on the groups’ involvement at the earliest and warned that the government would consider declaring such groups unlawful if their involvement in violence against civilians is established.
The Manipur government also ordered the setting up of peace committees in all districts, chaired by district magistrates, to restore peace and normalcy. The move followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s query to the chief minister on communal harmony efforts. It is the second such initiative after a 2023 committee set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs failed to deliver results. The committees will include the SP, sub‑divisional officers, department officials, community leaders, civil society groups, journalists, doctors, teachers and retired officials. They will facilitate inter‑community dialogue, identify tensions and rumours, counter misinformation, recommend confidence‑building measures and help restore safe movement and essential services. They will meet at least fortnightly, record proceedings and report to the home department. They will be consultative bodies and cannot exercise the powers of the district administration or police.