Daijiworld Media Network- Imphal

Imphal, May 1: Tension gripped Manipur’s Tamenglong district on Wednesday evening following a violent clash between residents of Old Tamenglong and Dailong villages over a long-standing land dispute, leaving at least 25 people, including 12 security personnel, injured. The situation escalated quickly, prompting the authorities to impose prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS).

The violence broke out when nearly 2,000 residents of Old Tamenglong were on a march toward the offices of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to submit a memorandum concerning the disputed land. As the procession reached the area, residents of Dailong village allegedly attacked them with stones, triggering a clash. Residents from nearby Duigailong village also joined in, supporting Dailong villagers, officials said.

During the unrest, the Public Works Department’s inspection bungalow was set ablaze, further intensifying the situation. Police forces had to resort to tear gas shelling to control the mob and prevent further escalation.

Authorities have since clamped restrictions in Tamenglong district headquarters and surrounding villages — Old Tamenglong, Dailong, and Duigailong — until further notice.
An official in Imphal clarified that the clash was rooted in a localised boundary dispute between two Naga villages, and is not related to the Meitei-Kuki ethnic conflict that erupted in the state in May 2023.

The local administration is keeping a close watch on the situation to prevent any further flare-ups, while appeals for calm have been issued across the affected regions.