Overview
- Multiple rounds of gunfire were reported on Dec. 16 near Torbung and Phougakchao Ikhai on the Bishnupur–Churachandpur border, with officials disputing whether anyone was injured.
- Manipur Police registered an FIR and said joint forces recovered a cache of improvised “pumpi” guns, a single-barrel firearm, cartridge cases, and an approximately 3 kg IED that was later safely disposed of.
- Additional state and central forces were deployed for area domination and searches, with senior police officials visiting the site and reporting the situation under control but tense.
- Recent returns were disrupted as authorities say roughly 97 Meitei families (389 people) had been resettled this month and many fled again following the firing and reports of bomb use.
- Reactions sharpened fault lines: Meitei civic body COCOMI condemned the attack and lodged a complaint over a Kuki-Zo Council statement, while the Kuki-Zo Council called resettlement in the buffer zone provocative and urged a rollback.