Imphal, February 9 Armed militants are alleged to have set fire to several houses in the Ukhrul district of Manipur, as tensions remained high in the area following an incident in which a member of the Tangkhul Naga community was allegedly "assaulted" by a group of people, officials said on Monday.
Two tribal groups had engaged in intense stone-pelting at the Litan village in the district on Sunday evening, prompting the administration to impose prohibitory orders, they said.
Around midnight on Monday, several houses belonging to members of the Tangkhul Naga community were reportedly set on fire at Litan Sareikhong, allegedly by Kuki militants. A few houses belonging to the Kuki community were also set on fire in a nearby area, the officials said.
Tangkhul is the largest Naga tribe in Manipur. Litan Sareikhong is a Kuki village.
"The extent of the damage is being assessed, and the situation remains tense," a district official told PTI.
Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh, in a social media post, appealed to all communities to exercise restraint and maintain peace.
"I visited RIMS Hospital this morning to meet those injured in the unfortunate incident in Ukhrul District & assured all necessary medical support for their speedy recovery," he said.
"The incident, arising out of a misunderstanding, is now under control. I appeal to all communities to exercise restraint, uphold the rule of law, and maintain peace and harmony," the CM added.
Video footage circulating online shows armed men setting fire to houses and vehicles in the village, and militants wearing camouflage firing with sophisticated weapons.
Additional security personnel have been deployed at Mahadev, Lambui and Shangkai and in other areas leading to Litan to maintain law and order and prevent the movement of suspicious individuals, the official said.
Security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the two tribal groups that clashed at Litan Sareikhong village on Sunday evening, he said.
A notification issued by the Ukhrul district magistrate said that there was a concern about the breach of peace and tranquility at the village, due to the tension between members of the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities.
DM Asish Das said in the notification that the movement of anyone outside their residence is prohibited from 7 pm on Sunday until further orders.
The decree shall not be applicable to government officials and security personnel, it added.
Violence broke out in the area, after a Tangkhul Naga community member was allegedly assaulted by seven to eight persons at Litan village on Saturday night.
The matter was settled by the victim's side and the chief of Litan Sareikhong, and both parties mutually agreed to resolve the issue through customary means, with a meeting scheduled for Sunday, the officials said.
However, the meeting did not take place.
Instead, a group of villagers from nearby Sikibung allegedly launched an attack on the residence of the chief of Litan Sareikhong, they said.
The villagers were also reportedly seen firing seven rounds while passing through the vicinity of Litan police station.