Kuki militants attack security forces, Meitei villages
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal/Moirang, March 26 2026: Kuki militants armed with sophisticated weapons attacked a joint post of Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) located at Phougakchao Awang Leikai, Bishnupur district at around 11.40 pm on March 25, 2026 .

The Kuki militants also targeted several Meitei villages of Torbung area.

Heavily armed Kuki militants attacked the security posts from Phouljang/Gothol village , sources said.

According to the sources, around 350-400 automatic rounds, 150-180 single shots and other ammunition were fired toward the area where security forces are deployed.

Kuki militants attack security forces, Meitei villages

Soon after the attack, security forces responded swiftly by firing back toward the Kuki militants resulting in an exchange of firing between the two sides which lasted for around 30 minutes, said the sources.

The firing continued from other adjacent areas at around 1.15 am of March 26, 2026 .

Apart from attacking the security forces, the Kuki militants also rained bullets and bombs on Phougakchao Ikhai Maning Leikai, Bazar Maning, Torbung Gram Panchayat Ward No 1, Torbung Gram Panchayat Ward No 2, Heikon, Turel Mapal, Kwakta and Torbung.

The attack went on for around 30 minutes.

The impact of the explosives shook many houses of these villages located along the foot of Thangjing Hills.

Following the renewed attack, many of the villagers who were earlier displaced and had come back, and many others who have been living there throughout the conflict have fled to safer places.

It was said that Central forces deployed at or close to these villages did not retaliate when these villages came under heavy attack from Kuki militants.

After the firing stopped, a combined security team consisting of Indian Army, CRPF, Manipur Police and Indian Reserve Battalion carried out a cordon and search operation in the area where the firing took place and the adjoining hill range.

Security forces have been closely monitoring the situation in the area and continued their search operation in the surrounding hill areas till this afternoon, said the sources.

However, there is no confirmed report of any recovery of arms and ammunition till the time of filing this report.

One villager of Phougakchao Ikhai Maning Leikai said that many Meitei villagers had come back recently after their houses were burnt down by Kuki militants.

"The fresh attack has shattered all our hopes of resettlement and rebuilding our lives", he said.

With Kuki militants attacking Meitei villages at the time and place of their choice, the Government is as good as dead, he decried.

The fresh attack has created a panicky situation and the villagers have been asking themselves if the tumultuous period which followed the May 3, 2023 aggression has returned, the villager said.

Minutes before the Kukis started opening fire, the power supply went off and all the localities of the Torbung area went dark.

"As the Kukis launched their fresh attack in the darkness, we fled for our lives clutching babies in our arms, not knowing in which direction we were running", he said.

He said that most of their houses are not made of concrete and they are quite vulnerable to any attack.

Saying that they have been leading a life filled with misery and uncertainty, the villager made a fervent appeal to both the Central Government and the State Government to rein in the Kuki militants.

Meanwhile, members of Thawai Meerel, Meira Paibis of Thamnapokpi and Peace Committee Kangleipak visited Phougakchao Ikhai Maning Leikai today and inspected the areas which came under attack from Kuki militants.

Thawai Meerel convenor Paonam Sanahanbi said that Kukis have been attacking Meitei villages at regular intervals even though the Government has been claiming peace has returned in the State.

Of the tens of thousands of people displaced by the prolonged crisis, the vast majority are still unable to go back to their homes, and the Kuki militants have been attacking Meiteis, the Government of India's decision to carry out census exercises is outrageous and unacceptable, she said.