Police in Manipur have evacuated 51 Kuki students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) Ramva in Ukhrul district following days of tension between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities.
The evacuation comes after clashes in the Litan Sareikhong area reportedly left around 30 houses burnt, heightening fears of further unrest in the Naga-majority district. Authorities described the move as a precautionary measure amid a fragile law and order situation.
In a statement, Ukhrul District Police said the 51 students were safely evacuated and handed over to a team from Saikul police station for onward movement to a JNV in Kangpokpi district, which has a Kuki-majority population. The group comprised 31 boys and 20 girls, all transported under security escort.
Police said the decision was taken to ensure the students’ safety as tensions persisted in parts of Ukhrul. During the evacuation, some residents reportedly mistook the students for miscreants, briefly escalating tensions. However, local civil society organisations intervened to calm the situation.
“Their efforts in persuading villagers across the Shangshak, Ramva, Shokvao, TM Kasom, and S Laho areas ensured the safe evacuation of the students,” the police statement added.
Authorities have urged all communities to exercise restraint and refrain from spreading rumours that could aggravate the situation.
The latest flare-up was triggered by a drunken altercation between two groups on the evening of February 7 in Litan, a commercial town inhabited by both Tangkhul Nagas and Kukis. The incident subsequently escalated into broader clashes over the following days.
Manipur has remained volatile since May 2023, when ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the hill districts opposing the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. More than 260 people have died, and thousands have been displaced in the prolonged unrest.
President’s Rule was imposed in the state on February 13 last year.
Earlier this month, Y Khemchand Singh was sworn in as Chief Minister amid renewed efforts to restore stability in the state.
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