Manipur unrest: 51 Kuki students rescued from Ukhrul amid fresh firing, internet curbs

Police evacuated 51 Kuki students from a school in Manipur’s Naga-majority Ukhrul district as a precautionary measure amid escalating tensions and fresh incidents of firing between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities, officials said on Monday.

The students, enrolled at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Ramva, were shifted late Sunday night to another JNV campus in Kangpokpi district, a Kuki-majority area. Police said the evacuation was carried out due to the prevailing law and order situation . The group included 31 boys and 20 girls, who were handed over to the Saikul police station team for their onward movement under security escort.

Tensions in Ukhrul have been simmering for more than a week following clashes in the Litan Sareikhong area, during which around 30 houses were burnt . Fresh firing was reported over the weekend , prompting additional deployment of security forces and intensified patrolling.

During the evacuation, some members of the public initially mistook the students for miscreants, leading to brief tension. However, local civil society organisations intervened and helped defuse the situation. Their efforts in persuading villagers across Shangshak, Ramva, Shokvao, TM Kasom, and S Laho areas ensured the safe evacuation of the students , the police statement said.

In view of the volatile situation, the Manipur government has imposed internet restrictions across Ukhrul and neighbouring districts to curb the spread of rumours and inflammatory content.

The latest violence between the Kukis and the Nagas reportedly began following a drunken brawl between two groups on February 7 in Litan, a commercial town inhabited by both communities. The clashes mark one of the first major outbreaks of ethnic violence in a Naga-dominated area since Manipur plunged into prolonged unrest nearly three years ago.

Manipur has been grappling with sustained ethnic violence since May 2023, primarily between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which has claimed at least 260 lives and displaced thousands. President’s Rule was imposed in the state on February 13 last year. A new chief minister, Y Khemchand Singh, was sworn in on February 4, 2026 , following the revocation of central rule. Security agencies remain on high alert across sensitive areas , as authorities reiterate their commitment to restoring peace and stability.