Sharkaphung

Sharkaphung, also known as Sikibung,^[a] is a village in Kamjong district, Manipur, India. It is on the bank of the Thoubal River, along the Imphal–Ukhrul Road (NH-202), about 35 kilometers (22 mi) from Imphal and 45 kilometers (28 mi) southwest of Ukhrul. The village is flanked by Thawai Kuki on the west and Litan in the east (the latter in Ukhrul district).

Sharkaphung, originally called Sikibung, was a village in the Ukhrul Sub-Division prior to Indian independence. The 1944 survey map shows it located on a stream called Habu Lok, a left tributary of the Thoubal River. The original location was on the hill slope, about 200–300 m above Thoubal vally floor. The village was acknowledged as a hill village in the Manipur Hill People's (Administration) Regulation (1947), in Circle No. 2 of the Ukhrul Sub-Division, which corresponds to the modern Kamjong district. It was listed as having a Kuki subvillage with 21 houses and a Tangkhul subvillage with 7 houses.^[1]

In 1956, the subvillages were listed as separate villages: "Sikibung Tangkhul" or Sikibung (T) and "Sikibung Kuki" or Sikibung (K).^[2] While Sikibung (K) stayed at the original location, Sikibung (T) moved down closer to the Thoubal River valley, which also carried Imphal–Ukhrul highway (present NH-202).^[3] The 1961 census gave the population of Sikibung (T) as 147 people with 28 households, and the population of Sikibung (K) as 73 people with 14 households.^[4][b]

In the next census in 1971, Sikibung Kuki was not listed,^[5] even though the Survey of India maps continue to show its location.^[3] It is possible that Sikibung Kuki has affiliated itself with the neighbouring Sareikhong village.

By 1991 census, Sikibung Tangkhul had grown to a population of 757.^[6][c] It now controlled the entire course of the Habu Lok stream and presumably attracted settlers from the neighbouring Tangkhul villages. By 2001, it was simply called "Sikibung" without the "Tangkhul" suffix.^[7]

Sareikhong was another "Kuki village" about 3 km east of Sikibung (T) by aerial distance, which expanded towards the Litan bridge after the Imphal–Ukhrul highway became functional. The Chepu village to the north of the Thoubal River also moved down to the valley next to the bridge. By 1961, there was a large village complex near the bridge, which was listed as "Litan Shepumongkot and Sareikhong" in the census with a population of 530 people.^[4] By 1991, this village cluster was moved to the Ukhrul subdivision, while Sikibung remained in the Kamjong subdivison.^[6]

As per later reports, Sikibung apparently laid claim to the Litan Bazar area. This led to a dispute with the Sareikhong village. There was a mention of a "1973 settlement agreement", by which Sareikhong was allegedly required to pay Rs. 20,000 for control of the area, but paid only half of it, leaving the remainder unpaid.^[8] Based on this, Sikibung village authorities continue to lay claim to the Litan Bazar area till this day. They are backed by Tangkhul Naga Long.^[9][10]

In 2021, it was mentioned that the headman of Sikibung, Wungreikhan Kasar, had requested the deputy commissioner of Ukhrul district, as the "competent authority", to "maintain the village boundary" between Sikibung and Sareikhong. But no response from the deputy commissioner has yet been announced.^[11]

The Sareikhong village did not separate into Kuki and Tangkhul portions, but an essential split seems to have developed there too, with the Kukis moving down to the settlement near the bridge and the Tangkhuls remaining on a hill. The hill subvillage, called Leingangching or S. Laho, is said to have had its "constitution" (Riyan) enacted by Sharkaphung.^[12] This seems to indicate that Leingangching had been turned into a subvillage of Sharkaphung, even though it was originally part of Sareikhong.^[d]

According to 2011 census, Sharkaphung has 202 households with the total of 1084 people, of which 560 are male and 554 are female.^[13] Of the total population, 156 were in the age group of 0–6 years. The average sex ratio of the village is 936 female to 1000 male, which is lower than the state average of 985. The literacy rate of the village stands at 74.03%, which is lower than the state average 76.94%. Male literacy rate stands at 80.46%, while female literacy rate was 67.26%.^[14]

The inhabitants speak Sarkaphung Tui, which belongs to the Tangkhulic (Naga) language family.

The village is home to people of Tangkhul Naga tribe. The majority of the inhabitants are Christians. Agriculture is the primary occupation of the inhabitants. Sharkaphung is one of the 44 villages considered likely to be affected as a catchment area when the Mapithel multi purpose project is functional.^[15]

• Sharkaphung Headman Stands Firm on Land Claim Amidst Tension, Ekhon, 15 February 2026.