Imphal: On Friday, some unidentified individuals set fire to an orchard in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, severely damaging acres of banana plantations. The blaze burned the ripe fruit and also damaged a farmhouse.
Reports indicate that over six acres of banana plantations, most of which were in the ripening stage, were burned on a hillside in Songjang Wafong village, Kangchup Geljang subdivision. The village is home to the Zeliangrong Naga community, which relies heavily on banana cultivation for its livelihood.
It is reported that miscreants set the orchard on fire around 10 a.m., burning the fruit, rendering it unmarketable or edible. Several huts and farmhouses were also reduced to ashes.
This incident follows a similar arson attack on January 26, 2026, when the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) claimed responsibility for burning down a farmhouse in the Songlung area. Initial reports attributed Friday’s attack to armed Kukis, but investigations are ongoing.
These incidents come amid ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur, particularly over land use and alleged opium cultivation in Kangpokpi district, highlighting the fragile security situation in the area.
