Amid renewed ethnic tensions in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, police have evacuated 51 Kuki students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) Ramva as a precautionary measure following days of unrest between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities.
The evacuation followed violent clashes in the Litan Sareikhong area that reportedly left around 30 houses gutted, intensifying fears of further instability in the Naga-majority district. Officials described the relocation as a necessary step to safeguard the students in view of the fragile law and order situation.
In an official statement, Ukhrul District Police confirmed that the 51 students were handed over to a team from Saikul police station for onward transfer to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Kangpokpi district, a Kuki-majority area. The group comprised 31 boys and 20 girls, all of whom were transported under tight security escort to ensure their safety.
During the evacuation process, tensions briefly flared when some local residents reportedly mistook the students for miscreants. However, the situation was swiftly brought under control with the intervention of local civil society organisations. Police acknowledged the role played by community leaders in persuading villagers across the Shangshak, Ramva, Shokvao, TM Kasom and S Laho areas, which enabled the students to be moved without incident.
Authorities have urged all communities to maintain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information that could aggravate the situation.
The recent violence is said to have been sparked 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. What began as a localised dispute escalated over the following days into broader clashes.
Manipur has remained volatile since May 2023, when ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the hill districts opposing the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The prolonged unrest has claimed more than 260 lives and displaced thousands.
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 as part of renewed efforts to restore peace and stability in the conflict-hit state.
