A senior government official, requesting anonymity, told ET, “Representatives of Kuki groups had discussion with the chief minister. This is a confidence-building measure. The meeting was held in a hotel in Guwahati.”
Post May 3, 2023, Kukis had ventured into the valley areas, while Meiteis hardly moved into Kuki-inhabited regions. In recent times, there have been increasing clashes between Thangkhul Nagas and Kukis.
Manipur has in the past witnessed clashes between Nagas and Kukis. The conflict that began in 1992 and lasted six years claimed over 1,000 lives. The 2023 Kuki-Meitei violence claimed 360 lives. Thangkhul is the largest Naga tribe in Manipur and is mainly found in five to six districts.
IEDs, SLRs, AK Rifles recovered
Security forces recovered 50 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), along with two SLRs, one AK rifle, mortars, grenades and communication devices.
“On March 20, 2026, security forces recovered the following from Keirao Wangkhem under Irilbung police station in Imphal East district: four country-made pistols with magazines, one 12-bore single-barrel gun, one .303 rifle, one country-made rifle and three INSAS rifle magazines,” Manipur Police said in a statement.
In Imphal West district, security forces also recovered one SLR with three magazines, two locally made bolt-action single-barrel guns, one modified sniper-type rifle, 11 pistols with one magazine each, 85 live rounds of ammunition of different calibres, three shells, one camouflage helmet, four camouflage BP vests, three magazine pouches and one green belt from Lamdeng and Kameng areas under Lamsang Police Station. “The recovered IEDs were destroyed in situ following safety protocols and standard operating procedures,” the statement said.Security forces in Tengnoupal district recovered three 9 mm pistols with magazines, one M-79 grenade launcher, 12 IEDs and four radio sets from IMB near BP-72 at Yangoubung village.
From the general area between Loisi village and Saivom village, forces recovered one locally made single-barrel gun, one .32 mm pistol with magazine, two pompis, 42 live rounds of ammunition of different calibres, 29 IEDs, five locally made hand grenades, five .36 hand grenades, two Chinese hand grenades, seven stun grenades, five electric detonators, seven ignitor fuses, two Motorola radio sets and two magazine pouches.
