File photo of Indian Army personnel guarding along the Indo-Myanmar international border. | Photo credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
Myanmar-based Kuki extremists allegedly carried out a pre-dawn attack on Naga villages in ethnic conflict-affected Kamjong district of Manipur on Thursday (May 7, 2026).
Kamjong borders Myanmar. The district headquarters of the same name is about 120 kilometers east of Manipur’s capital Imphal.
According to an apex body of the Tangkhul Nagas, at least 100 heavily armed men attacked three villages (Choro, Wanglee and Namlee) located near the international border, firing indiscriminately and setting fire to 18 houses.
Two civilians were wounded by gunshots, while several others were detained at gunpoint and tortured by armed men, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) Working Committee said in a statement.
The TNL alleged that the Kuki-Burma National Army, backed by the People’s Defense Forces (a Myanmar anti-junta armed group), carried out coordinated attacks on the three villages.
Bombed civilian areas
“Tangkhul Naga villages were raided and invaded around 3.30 am. Civilian settlements were also heavily shelled with drones, rocket launchers and lathode (40mm) weapons, destroying several houses and some were razed to the ground. In addition, villagers were looted and shot at by Myanmar-based Kuki militants,” the TNL said.
“The unfortunate incidents occurred about 200 meters from the 11 Assam Rifles company stationed between Choro and Aloyo,” the TNL said.
The organization said the external aggression on Indian soil created panic, fear and insecurity among Indian villagers, leaving them homeless. Villagers were reportedly taking shelter in the jungle and many others were still missing.
Local MP Leishiyo Keishing, who represents the Phungyar constituency, condemned the attacks. Citing affected villagers, he said the attackers kidnapped at least two people, including a man, before returning to Myanmar.
Assam rifles criticized
The TNL said the external aggression was shocking, as border villagers provided food and shelter to hundreds of civilians who sought refuge following a violent resistance movement against Myanmar’s military regime.
The Nagas criticized the Assam Rifles, which guards the India-Myanmar border. They allege that the paramilitary force failed to keep the people and the border safe from external aggression. “The security of villagers residing along the India-Myanmar border has been clearly compromised, and the Center must take immediate action and take responsibility for the failure of strategic security,” the TNL said.
Manipur’s population is largely made up of the non-tribal Meiteis, who are the majority in the Imphal Valley, and the tribal Kukis and Nagas, who share the hills. The Tangkhul Nagas dominate Kamjong and the adjoining Ukhrul districts.
There have been intermittent conflicts between the Kuki and Tangkhul Nagas in these two districts since the first week of February. The conflict has claimed at least four lives and dozens of houses have been burned.
Manipur has been burning since May 3, 2023, when the conflict between the Kukis and Meiteis broke out. At least 260 people were killed and another 62,000 displaced in this conflict.
Published – May 7, 2026 05:07 pm IST