Dr. Shadab Ahmed
When Austro-Asiatic tribes, Tibeto-Burman migrants, and Indo-Aryan settlers converged in Manipur over centuries, they wove a rich ethnic tapestry that defined this northeastern Indian state. Yet, none could have imagined that this diversity would unravel into a 21st-century tribal conflict. The once-mighty Manipur Kingdom, subdued by the British Raj, now grapples with resurgent ethnic identities, simmering like a dormant volcano poised to erupt into chaos. Today, Manipur simmers, its Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities locked in a volatile standoff that threatens to plunge the state into anarchy.
Manipur’s polarization is stark and deeply entrenched. The Hindu Meitei population, dominant in the fertile Imphal Valley, contrasts with the Christian Kuki-Zo minority, concentrated in the surrounding hills. This divide permeates every level of society—civilian life, bureaucracy, politics, and judiciary—fueled by mutual distrust. The conflict escalated in May 2023 when Kuki-Zo tribes organized a march in Churachandpur to protest a Manipur High Court ruling. The court had supported the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, which grants quotas in government jobs, education and protections for land protection. For Meiteis, who hold significant political and economic power, this was a step toward equity; for Kuki-Zo, already a recognized tribal group, it threatened their existing privileges and autonomy.
The protest turned violent, with mobs clashing with security forces, leaving over 225 dead and 67,000 displaced, per a 2024 Home Ministry report. In Imphal, Meitei groups retaliated, torching Kuki-Zo homes and committing acts of sexual violence, as documented by human rights groups. Misinformation and propaganda spread unchecked, opening floodgates of ethnic hostility. Dormant militant groups resurfaced, exploiting the mayhem. For instance, in June 2024, Meitei youths armed with looted rifles attacked Kuki-Zo villages in Jiribam, killing seven and injuring dozens, as reported by local authorities.
To curb the escalating violence, New Delhi imposed spatial segregation, dividing Manipur into ethnic enclaves: Meiteis in the valley, Kuki-Zo in the hills, separated by a Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)-patrolled buffer zone. Yet, the buffer zone has failed to contain breaches. In September 2024, Kuki-Zo militants raided a Meitei settlement near Sugnu, killing four, underscoring the zone’s fragility. Both communities, distrusting state and central governments, have formed “village defense forces.” Meitei militias, such as the Arambai Tenggol, looted police armories in 2023, seizing over 3,000 weapons, per state police records. Kuki-Zo militants, allegedly bolstered by Chin refugees from Myanmar, face accusations of narco-militancy, a claim reiterated in a 2024 Home Ministry report linking cross-border drug networks to arms proliferation.
The resurgence of militias has deepened the crisis, with an estimated 5,500 illegal arms still unrecovered, per a 2023 Manipur police assessment. In response, President’s Rule was imposed in February 2025 and ratified by Parliament in April, suspending the state government to restore order. Concurrently, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, was extended across Manipur, excluding 13 police station areas in five districts, for six months. AFSPA grants security forces sweeping powers—arrest without warrants, search without authorization, and use of lethal force—while shielding them from prosecution without central approval. Its history is contentious; in 2004, the custodial death of Thangjam Manorama under AFSPA sparked statewide protests, highlighting human rights concerns that persist today.
The Narendra Modi government must act decisively to leverage these measures for peace. A critical step is forming a “peace committee” with equal representation from Meitei and Kuki-Zo clans, including women, to foster dialogue. The 2003 Manipur peace talks, though inconclusive, demonstrated the value of inclusive forums. Disarming belligerents is paramount; the 2018 Assam arms recovery drive, which retrieved 1,200 illegal weapons, offers a blueprint. Land disputes, the conflict’s core, demand urgent resolution. Kuki-Zo seek autonomous hill councils, while Meiteis prioritize valley land protections. Mizoram’s 2019 land reform commission, which mediated tribal land disputes, provides a model for equitable solutions. Additionally, addressing narco-militancy through cross-border cooperation with Myanmar, as seen in India’s 2022 joint operations, could curb militia funding.
Manipur’s crisis demands urgency and nuance. By recovering arms, resolving land grievances, and fostering inclusive governance, the government can prevent further descent into chaos. Failure to act risks deepening ethnic fractures, leaving Manipur’s diverse heritage scarred by irreparable division.
(Note: Dr. Shadab Ahmed is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, acclaimed columnist, and author, renowned for his writings on Indian history, geopolitics, and ethnic culture.)
