CCpur mob sets ablaze house of KNO leader
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 15 2025: Tension escalated in Churachandpur, the place where the May 3, 2023 violence started, as an unruly mob set ablaze the residence of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) secretary of external affairs Calvin Aikhenthang at Dorcas Veng last night.

Calvin is the former vice president of Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) under KNO, a signatory of the SoO agreement.

On September 4, KNO and United People's Front (UPF) signed the extension of the SoO agreement with the Centre on renegotiated terms and conditions, under which they agreed to maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur, relocate designated camps away from vulnerable areas, and work towards a solution to bring lasting peace and stability in the State.

CCpur mob sets ablaze house of KNO leader

Sources confirmed that Calvin and his family were not residing in the house, which was rented to students of Grace Bible College.

The occupants were reportedly asked to vacate the premises before the arson attack.

This marks the second attack on Calvin's residence, following a petrol bomb assault on September 4, the day the Government signed the extension of the SoO agreement with the KNO and United People's Front (UPF) .

The residence of another Kuki leader, Ginza Vualzong, who is the spokesperson of the Kuki Zo Council (KZC) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), was also targeted by miscreants, but timely intervention by locals helped prevent the house from being set on fire.

Notably, the district has been volatile since the last few days with protests and clashes between youths and security forces over arrests related to vandalizing decorations for the Prime Minister's visit.

Yesterday, a large mob stormed the Churachandpur police station, destroying its main entrance gate and demanding the unconditional release of two individuals arrested on September 11 for allegedly vandalizing structures and decorations between Pearsommun and Chiengkon villages, set up for the Prime Minister's visit.

Security forces responded by firing tear gas shells and warning shots into the air, dispersing the mob and pushing them back from the station around 5.30 pm.

Later that night, the mob regrouped, attacking security personnel with stones and slingshots.

To regain control, security forces fired additional rounds of tear gas and detained several individuals on the spot.

During the chaos, unidentified miscreants set ablaze the residence of Calvin, the KNO leader.

It may be mentioned that Kuki National Organisation (KNO) spokesperson Seilen Haokip's house at Churachandpur's Songpi was also set on fire on July 4, 2023 night after the KNO and the United People's Front (UPF) had announced that the blockade on National Highway 2 in Kangpokpi will be lifted.