New Delhi: At least 41 houses belonging to Naga residents and churches were burnt during a nearly 12-hour spell of violence in Kangpokpi district’s Makui area in Manipur, as per reports.Seventeen houses were razed in Makui Chamriupui, eight in Makui Thanamba, and 16 in Makui Thebram. Besides that houses were also burnt in Naga villages Langka, Thanamba, Kapningching, Tajeikaiphun.The unrest began around 2.30 pm on September 23 and raged on until 2.30 am the following day.Villagers alleged that Kuki militants under suspension of operation (SoO) agreement with the government were behind the attacks. They also criticised the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel for not intervening to stop the hours-long rampage. The security personnel were reportedly deployed within a ten-km radius.Many residents reportedly said that they remained in their respective villages despite the tension for about 12 hours but were forced to leave when their houses caught fire and shifted towards Makui village.According to local media reports, there were clashes between Kuki and Naga armed groups on Thursday afternoon in the same area.Security personnel said large-scale civilian casualties were avoided largely because many villagers had fled due to earlier warnings, taking refuge in nearby forests and makeshift shelters, including one at Makui Khunjao.However, displaced families, particularly women, children and senior citizens were struggling without sufficient food, shelter or basic supplies.The Makui Village Authority condemned the incident, calling it a “direct attempt to wipe out Liangmai Nagas from the IT Road area” and grab ancestral land. It also tied the latest violence to an earlier attack on August 27, in which four villagers from Makui were reportedly killed in an ambush between Makui Ashang and Thanamba.