Litan situation takes ugly turn; at least 24 houses damaged

Mungchan Zimik
UKHRUL, Feb 9: A physical altercation involving a few members of Tangkhul Naga and Kukis in Ukhrul on Saturday has escalated quickly with over 20 houses burnt down by miscreants at Litan Sareikhong.
At least 24 houses, some vehicles and many public properties were burnt down and destroyed at Litan Sareikhong village yesterday night. Majority of houses which were burnt belonged to the Tangkhul Naga community and three belonged to Kuki community, said sources.
While the exact number of the houses that have been burnt down is not known, the arson took place amid a strict curfew imposed by the District Magistrate in Litan area to maintain order and prevent a possible violent clash between members of the two communities.
Despite a strong presence of security forces enforcing the curfew, 16 houses belonging to Tangkhul, 4 quarters of the Public Works Department and 3 houses belonging to the Kuki community were burnt down by miscreants.
At the time of writing this report, some houses were torched in two different locations near 33/11 KV power substation of Litan and on the western side of Litan Main Market, and sounds of gunshots could be heard. Video footages of the incident at Litan have gone viral on the social media.
The situation at Litan Sareikhong village remains tense, with villagers fleeing to safer places.
Meanwhile, a video that has gone viral on social media shows miscreants, some armed and with masks, burning down a house and a parked vehicle. One among the miscreants could be seen holding a possibly looted gas cylinder.
Another video, that has flagged serious concern and a possible gap in the security apparatus, shows members of the Tangkhul community confronting security forces deployed in the area, and accusing them of "assisting" in the arson.
The members of the public accused the security forces of not taking steps to prevent the houses from being torched.
In the morning today, Litan Sareikhong bore a deserted place with many villagers having fled to nearby safe places including the villages of Leingangching and Mongkot Chepu.
A team of MLAs led by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho visited Litan Sarei-khong and held a joint meeting attended by representatives of Naga and Kuki community, officials of district administration and se- curity forces.
During the meeting, Losii Dikho urged the leaders of both communities to show maximum restraint for restoring peace in the region. He said, the culprits involved in the arson will be arrested.
Later, the team inspected the site of the incidents and interacted with victim families.
What led to the arson?
A physical altercation on Saturday night allegedly involving "intoxicated" individuals of both Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities escalated and led to the arson on Sunday night.
A Ukhrul Times report said a Tangkhul Naga individual, identified as Sterling, switched on his torch after hearing voices nearby. The group, reportedly belonging to the Kuki community, allegedly assaulted him, claiming that the torchlight was directed at their faces.
Sterling sustained serious injuries and was later shifted to a hospital in Imphal for medical treatment, said the report.
Following the incident, villagers from Sharkaphung village allegedly demanded that the Kuki chief of Litan Sareikhong hand over those involved in the assault.
Meanwhile, Litan Sareikhong allegedly issued a statement stating it had the intention of resolving the issue through customary practices and a meeting was scheduled on Sunday. It claimed the family of the injured person did not attend the meeting.
The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), mean- while, also issued a statement claiming the matter had been resolved peacefully and through customary mechanisms by the village authority of Litan Sarei-khong, in consultation with the injured person’s family.
However, the Katho Katamnao Long (KKL) categorically rejected the KSO statement, and asserted that no concrete steps were taken to resolve or rectify the situation.
After the demands of Sharkaphung villagers were allegedly not met, some individuals allegedly attacked the residence of the chief of Litan Sareikhong and the house of a person allegedly involved in the initial physical altercation in which the Tangkhul man was hurt.
The situation then escalated further with members of both communities clashing.
A curfew was then imposed, and security forces were stationed in the village to maintain order.
Amid the curfew at night, miscreants, many of whom were armed, started torching houses, vehicles and other public properties.
Land ownership issue comes to the fore
The arson and violent clash at Litan area has, meanwhile, put the issue regarding the ownership of Litan to the fore again, with a 2024 "administrative order" of the Wung Tangkhul Region of the NSCN-IM going viral on social media.
In the 2024 order, the NSCN-IM asserted that the Litan or Litan Bazar is a part and parcel of Sikibung/Sharkaphung village and the "encroachment" made by Soyam Baite, chief of Sareikhong Kuki was illegal.
While a settlement was reached in 1973 in the interest of maintaining cordial relationship, peace and tranquillity, it had specific condition that the chief of Sareikhong Kuki shall pay a sum of Rs 20,000 to the headman of Sikibung/Sharkaphung village on or before the July 31, 1974.
However, in deliberate breach of the agreement, the chief of Sareikhong Kuki failed to pay the remaining sum of Rs 10,000. Consequently, the said settlement agreement was automatically cancelled and rescinded as per the tradition, usage and custom of the Tangkhul Nagas, said the NSCN-IM's order.
The NSCN-IM accused Hemkhothang Baite, chief of Sareikhong, of claiming false ownership of Litan/Litan Bazar, and warned him of immediate eviction as per customary law and practice in case of violation of its directives.
Meanwhile, individuals whose houses or properties were burnt or damaged on Sunday night include Deepak (headman of Litan village), Khanringpam Va-shum, Sejam Jim, Blessing Horam, Thanmihor Nga-kang, Loken Kasar, Shang- reikhai VS, Tuireising Kasar, H Sellynao, Maras, V Cliff, V Thanmila, L Sam-son, Ramyen Kasar, K Roc- ky, Shimreingam Rimai, Anonemos Jajo, Wungshim Kasar, Tuireising Kasar, Ngahor Ngalung, Lamthang Baite, Yamthang Baite and Alun Baite.