Manipur has been hit by a fresh wave of violence. Suspected militants attacked Chassad village in Kamjong district late on Saturday night, leaving one civilian dead, several others injured and at least 15 houses belonging to Kuki families reduced to ashes. A joint column of the Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force and Kamjong district police has been deployed to bring the situation under control.
The attack, in a remote hill area close to the Myanmar border, has once again forced families to flee their homes and has raised fresh questions about security in Manipur's eastern hill districts.
What happened in Chassad
According to reports from the district, armed men attacked Chassad, a hill village, late on Saturday, October 17. One Kuki villager died of his injuries, and others, including members of the village leadership, were wounded by gunfire. Officials said on Sunday that at least 15 houses had been set on fire during or after the attack.
Local reports said the attack was allegedly carried out by a suspected Naga armed group. Some Kuki organisations have named a specific outfit, but this allegation has not been independently verified, and police have not publicly identified those responsible.
Separately, three Tangkhul Naga civilians reportedly suffered bullet injuries at the Kamjong district headquarters on Saturday night when armed men attacked the area. The two incidents on the same night have heightened fears of a wider flare-up between communities in the district.
Families flee to forests and Army camp
Displaced Kuki families from Chassad fled into nearby forest areas, and some sought shelter at an Army camp in the vicinity. With homes burnt and the threat of further attacks, many are unlikely to return until security forces have firmly secured the area.
| Location | Chassad village, Kamjong district, Manipur |
| When | Late night of Saturday, October 17, 2026 |
| Deaths | One civilian |
| Injured | Several, including village leaders |
| Houses burnt | At least 15, belonging to Kuki families |
| Forces deployed | Assam Rifles, BSF and Kamjong police |
| Separate incident | Three Tangkhul Naga civilians injured at Kamjong headquarters |
Government reaction
Manipur Cabinet Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the violence and described the burning of houses as an "intolerable crime", according to news agency PTI. She expressed grief over the death of the civilian and concern for the injured village leaders and displaced families. The minister directed the district administration, state police and security forces to keep round-the-clock vigil, protect lives and property, and bring those responsible to justice.
Police said in a statement that the joint column of central forces and district police had been deployed to the area to restore order.
A worrying week in Kamjong
The Chassad attack is not an isolated incident. On Thursday, October 15, a Kuki woman was killed and her husband injured in an ambush between Molvailup and Phaikoh villages in the same district, according to reports. Two deadly attacks within three days in one district point to a serious deterioration in local security.
Background: why Kamjong is sensitive
Kamjong is a hill district in eastern Manipur bordering Myanmar. It is home to Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities, and land, territory and the presence of armed groups have long been sources of tension in the area. While much of the national attention on Manipur since 2023 has focused on the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in the valley and its foothills, the eastern hills have seen their own frictions between Naga and Kuki groups.
What it means for people in Manipur
For residents of Kamjong and neighbouring Ukhrul district, the immediate impact is fear and displacement. Fresh violence also tends to disrupt road movement, supplies and schools across the hill districts. Tribal organisations often respond with shutdowns and protests, which hit ordinary people hardest.
What happens next
Security forces are expected to step up patrols and search operations around Chassad and the Kamjong headquarters. The state government will be under pressure to provide relief to displaced families, arrange compensation for those who lost homes and identify the attackers. Civil society groups on all sides have appealed for calm. We will update this report as officials share more details.
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