Imphal | A residential house belonging to a Liangmai Naga family was gutted in a suspected arson attack at Leimakhong Chingmang in Manipur’s Imphal West district, with property losses estimated at around Rs 10 lakh.

According to local sources, a group of armed men allegedly entered the area around 10.10 pm on October 4 and set fire to the house of Simon Chawang, also known as Stephen Chawang, a native of Konsakhul. The blaze completely destroyed the house and household belongings, including important documents and other valuables.

A video circulating on social media, purportedly showing the incident at Leimakhong Chingmang, showed a structure engulfed in flames with thick smoke rising into the night. Security personnel were reportedly present in the vicinity. The Konsakhul (Kon-saram) Village Authority condemned the incident, calling it a deliberate attack on a member of the Naga community.

In a statement, the village authority alleged that cadres of the Kuki National Front-Progressive (KNF-P) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) were responsible for the arson. Both groups are signatories to the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.

The village body said armed groups covered under the SoO framework should not be allowed to target civilians or destroy private property with impunity. It described the incident as particularly disturbing at a time when efforts are continuing to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.

The Konsakhul Village Authority urged the Central government to take immediate steps to restrain armed Kuki groups and called on the Centre and Manipur government to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident. It also demanded that those responsible for the attack be identified and brought to justice at the earliest.