Viral videos allegedly linked to NSCN-IM cadres spark fears of coordinated violence as Kuki villages in four districts face fresh threats amid ongoing unrest
By Kimbawinu Vaiphei
Songpi, July 2, 2026: Renewed ethnic tensions have gripped Manipur after a disturbing set of messages and visuals began circulating online this week. A video from a WhatsApp group identified as “GPRN NSCN-IM” shows a forwarded message openly calling for attacks on Kuki villages across Kangpokpi, Noney, Kamjong, and Tamenglong districts. The video contains inflammatory rhetoric, asserts territorial claims, and appears to incite targeted violence against Kuki settlements, triggering widespread alarm among communities already living under the shadow of prolonged unrest.
The content of the video has heightened fears because of its explicit language and stated intent. It references specific districts with significant Kuki populations and frames the call to action in terms of territorial ownership, a narrative that has historically preceded outbreaks of violence in the state. For residents of the named areas, the circulation of such material has revived trauma from previous rounds of village burnings and displacement, with many now questioning the adequacy of security measures on the ground.
Compounding public anxiety is a second video that went viral shortly after the first. The footage allegedly shows armed individuals, reportedly linked to NSCN-IM cadres and Kacha Naga village volunteers, celebrating in front of a burning village following the reported destruction of a Kuki settlement. The visuals of apparent post-attack celebration, when viewed alongside the earlier video calling for attacks, have led to fears that the violence is coordinated rather than spontaneous.
Civil society groups and local leaders from affected districts say the sequence of an inciting video followed by celebration footage points to a dangerous pattern. They argue that the timing and content suggest premeditation and have urged both state and central authorities to intervene immediately to prevent further escalation. The presence of armed men in the second video has also raised questions about enforcement of the ceasefire ground rules that govern NSCN-IM’s operations in the region.
As of now, there has been no official statement from security agencies regarding the authenticity of the videos or any arrests linked to the content. The circulation of the material has nonetheless deepened anxiety among civilians in Kangpokpi, Noney, Kamjong, and Tamenglong, with many families relocating as a precaution. With memories of past violence still fresh, communities are demanding swift verification, preventive deployment, and accountability to ensure that online incitement does not translate into another cycle of bloodshed.
Viral Video Link: https://fb.watch/I67jWC0lVC/
