16 May 2026 – State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) military forces destroyed at least a total of 23 civilian homes in Chuncung village, Hakha township, Chin State, following two consecutive days of arson attacks between 14 May and 15 May 2026.
According to local reports, SSPC troops first entered the village around midnight on 14 May, burning seven houses, including some of the village’s strongest structures.
They allegedly returned on the evening of 15 May to set fire to an additional 16 residences.
A Chuncung villager who is currently taking shelter in a nearby location said that a male Christian pastor and one village leader were arrested in the paddy field in the morning, and that their whereabouts and what happened to them still remains unknown.
The attacks come amid intense military operations by the SSPC across Chin State, particularly focused on efforts to regain control of Falam town. Chuncung village, which is located along the Falam-Hakha road, has previously been reported as being under the control of the Chin National Army (CNA).
The village has been a repeated target for military action, contributing to an escalating humanitarian crisis in the region. Past incidents include two separate SAC airstrikes in December 2024 that killed four people, including a child, and injured nine, and an additional airstrike in March 2025 that destroyed another house.
Allegations have also previously been reported that military-aligned town elders in nearby Hakha were preparing to welcome the SSPC column responsible for the destruction. – Reporting by Daniel
