At least three Tangkhul Naga villages dominated by NSCN-IM located along the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Kamjong district came under attack by suspected militants of the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) in the early hours of Thursday.

According to initial reports, one civilian was injured in the incident. No fatalities were reported at the time of filing this update.

Villages Targeted

The affected villages are Namlee, Wanglee, and Aloyo (Z Choro). These villages have been hosting a significant number of refugees from Myanmar. As per Kamjong district administration records dated May 7, 2024, more than 1,500 Myanmar refugees were being sheltered in Choro, Namlee, and Wanglee villages.

The villages fall under the influence of the NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagalim – Isak-Muivah), a major Naga insurgent group.

Link to Illegal Trade

Local reports and satellite imagery comparisons from 2018 and 2024 indicate that these villages, particularly Namlee, have emerged as a major hub for cross-border illegal trade. Goods allegedly involved include narcotics, areca nuts, and timber smuggled from Myanmar.

• Namlee is said to have been developed as an alternative trade route to the more established border town of Moreh.
• The village reportedly witnessed rapid expansion between 2018 and 2024, driven by the influx of traders and increased illegal activities.
• Benefits from this trade are claimed to have extended not only to local villagers but also to NSCN-IM, various vested business interest groups (VBIGs), forest department officials, and some politicians in Manipur.

The incident brings to fore the complex interplay of ethnic tensions, refugee influx from Myanmar’s ongoing conflict, and the lucrative but contentious illegal cross-border trade along the porous Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur.

This region has long been sensitive due to overlapping claims by different ethnic armed groups, including Naga and Kuki factions, compounded by the large-scale arrival of refugees and internally displaced persons since the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in 2023.

Further details on the attack, including the exact motive and full extent of damage, are awaited as security forces are expected to step up operations in the area.