Imphal | Jan 16, 2026

Para Special Forces commandos and troops of the Assam Rifles on Friday destroyed jungle camps belonging to the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) during a joint anti-insurgency operation in Churachandpur district of violence-hit Manipur, officials familiar with the development said.

The UKNA, a proscribed outfit that is not a signatory to the suspension of operations agreement with the Union government, is believed to operate camps both within Manipur and across the India–Myanmar border.

According to officials, security personnel were airlifted into the dense forest areas using helicopters, and the operation was confined to Churachandpur. The action began at around 9 am on Friday.

“The joint operation is linked to UKNA’s attempts to fuel tensions in the state and obstruct the restoration of normalcy,” an official said. Several cadres of the group have allegedly been involved in firing at houses of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who were recently resettled under Phase I of the government’s rehabilitation programme, the official added.

Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023, which has claimed at least 260 lives and displaced over 60,000 people. While Meiteis primarily reside in the Imphal Valley, Kukis largely inhabit the hill districts. Following the outbreak of violence, both communities retreated to their respective areas, and clashes have continued intermittently despite the deployment of large numbers of security forces.

Last month, the government initiated a phased resettlement of IDPs. Phase I covers families whose homes were partially damaged, while Phase II will involve the allotment of new houses under a central housing scheme. Phase III will focus on relocating families back to either the valley or hill areas from where they fled at the onset of violence.

Officials said that over the past month, armed Kuki groups have been involved in at least two firing incidents near areas where IDPs had recently been rehabilitated under Phase I, prompting intensified security operations in the region.

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