Unrest forced the closure of the border between Tamu (Myanmar) and Moreh (Manipur, India) after the 2021 coup in Myanmar. In an interview with Doordarshan last week, Min Aung Hlaing, President of Myanmar said that the military was “trying its best to reopen the Kale–Tamu road” and restore border trade.
There is a report that fresh clashes have erupted in Myanmar between the military and rebels after the regime leader Min Aung Hlaing visited Delhi and vowed to complete the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway.
It is to be noted that some highways (Monywa–Yargyi–Kalewa) inside Myanmar are to be upgraded with Indian funding. Min Aung Hlaing has vowed to secure the road before the monsoon rains make the mountain roads impassable.
According to reports by the BBC, thousands of civilians have fled their homes since the military launched a FRESH OFFENSIVE inside Myanmar, including rebel bases bordering India. Khampat – which has been under the control of People’s Defense Forces (PDF) since 2023 is reported being cornered by the regime which has also deployed a large number of troops including its allied Pyu Saw Htee, Meitei and Naga groups to seize Khampat and secure the road which runs parallel with the Indian border at a distance of around 5 km.
Thousands of civilians have fled in the directions of India and Kale. Reports say some were stuck at the border fence and some have sneaked inside Indian territory.
The argument that the Myanmar military regime controls less than 50% is a misleading one. In fact, the regime appears to be making gains by recapturing key townships.
Is the US backed NUG-PDF slowly losing its hold? Report suggests that in many parts of Myanmar, the rebels are now on the back foot against the military. One pertinent question is have some of the cadres of PDF or KNA-B entered India, Manipur through Kamjong District.
IMPACT IN MANIPUR
The conflict in Myanmar has forced many civilians to flee Myanmar and enter the Indian side for temporary shelter in the border villages of Kamjong District, Manipur.
The Tangkhul Naga Villages such as Aloyo, Z. Choro, KAKA, Wanglee, Namlee and Huimine Thana are still giving temporary shelters to hundreds of civilians from Myanmar along the stretch of Indo -Myanmar International Pillar Border Numbers 89 -102.
7 MAY 2026 INCIDENT
The Myanmar based militants -the People’s Defence Force (PDF) and Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) has intruded inside the Indian soil and carried out coordinated attacks on the Indian villages along the Indo-Myanmar border on 7 May 2026. In this regard, the Kamjong Police had reported that “today i.e. 07 May 2026 at about 04:30 am received reliable information that on 07 May 2026 at about 3:30 am some unknown armed miscreants suspected to be KNA (B) (Kuki National Army, Burma) numbering about 50/60 holding sophisticated firearms came to Choro village, Kamjong district by crossing Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) and carried out terrorist attacks using sophisticated weapons, explosive and dropping bombs through drones. As a result of which, 21 (twenty-one) numbers of houses were completely burnt down and some villagers got injured. Hence the Suo Motto case under FIR No. 05 (05) 2026/CSD-PS.”
In this regard, the Tangkhul Naga Long has also urged for the safety and security of the villagers residing along the Indo-Myanmar border which had been “blatantly compromised” and it had appealed to the Centre to take immediate action and own responsibility for the strategic security failure.
11 JUNE 2026 INCIDENT
The Assam Rifles- Sentinels Of The North East posted “A firing incident in Kultuk Village, Kamjong District, on 11 June 2026. Responding immediately to reports of gunfire, Assam Rifles personnel reached the area, provided critical first aid to two injured civilians, Mr Kamminlal Haokip and Mr Jangkhomang Baite; is t also ensured timely evacuation for advanced medical treatment. One casualty was airlifted to Military Hospital, Leimakhong, while the other was transported by road for specialised care.”
The press statement released by the Naga Village Guard, Eastern Command, dated 11
June 2026 stated that “the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) launched a violent attack on Kultuk— a Kuki settlement under the jurisdiction of Tangkhul Nagas, which is located along the Indo-Myanmar border of Kamjong Sub-Division, Kamjong District of Manipur and claimed the lives of four villagers, two persons injured and more than 15
residential houses burnt to ashes.
The attack on Kultuk village today was reportedly due to the sharp difference arising between the
forces of Kuki National Front-President (KNF-P) and Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B)
over area of domination along the international border.”
CONCLUSION
The present crisis between the Nagas and the Kukis in Manipur that erupted on 7 February 2026 is a culmination of events with layers of underlying stories, much of which are yet to be unearthed or told. However, it would not be wrong to say that the present situation in Manipur is closely related to the situation in Myanmar. Definitely, people are deeply impacted. Four months and the original owners cannot travel in their own land. Hostages, ambushes, killings and gun firing along the National Highway 202 are becoming a common story. The people in authority are watching without action leaving the common people to suffer.
Lemmet M Shimray
(The views and opinions in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of Rural Post)
