Manipur's Lingering Shadows: Ethnic Violence Persists Amid Calls for Accountability
In the verdant hills and fertile valleys of Manipur, a state once romanticized as the "Switzerland of the East," the echoes of ethnic strife refuse to fade. Over two years since the May 2023 clashes between the predominantly Hindu Meitei community and the Christian-majority Kuki-Zo tribes ignited, the northeastern Indian state remains a tinderbox of unresolved grievances. As of early October 2025, fresh reports of sporadic violence, political maneuvering, and humanitarian crises underscore a deepening divide, with over 258 lives lost and 60,000 people still languishing in relief camps.
A Resignation That Failed to Quell the Flames
The ouster of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in February 2025 amid a no-confidence motion and accusations of pro-Meitei bias ushered in President's Rule, a direct federal takeover aimed at restoring order. Yet, as Human Rights Watch noted in March, the change has only "renewed risks" of escalation.1aff32 Armed groups from both sides, dormant for periods, have reactivated, turning buffer zones into battlegrounds. In Churachandpur and Jiribam districts, gunfights and ambushes claimed six lives in September alone, prompting Army drone patrols and the reimposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in key areas.
The Supreme Court continues to probe the unrest, with a fresh Forensic Science Laboratory report pending on audio recordings allegedly implicating Singh in stoking the violence. Critics, including Amnesty International, decry a "culture of impunity," pointing to unprosecuted cases of sexual violence like the infamous July 2023 video of Kuki women paraded by a Meitei mob and vigilante threats against activists. Media coverage remains skewed, with national outlets accused of amplifying Meitei narratives while marginalizing Kuki voices, further entrenching mistrust.
Border Pressures and Internal Fractures
Compounding the ethnic fault lines are external strains. Ex-Chief Minister Singh recently claimed 42,000 "outsiders" from Myanmar—fleeing the 2021 coup have entered since December 2024, prompting the deployment of 20 Assam Rifles battalions along the porous border. Kuki groups view this rhetoric as scapegoating, tying it to demands for a separate administration under Article 244A. Meanwhile, intra-group clashes, such as the July killing of five Chin Kuki Mizo Army cadres in Noney district over leadership disputes, highlight fissures even within tribal alliances.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's September visit his first in two years brought pledges of 7,000 new homes for the displaced and Rs 8,000 crore in infrastructure, framed as a "path of peace. Yet, opposition voices, including Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, question the NDA's selective outrage, contrasting it with the muted response to Manipur's horrors. On X (formerly Twitter), users echo this frustration: one post laments how "GOI just doesn't see Manipur as a concern," while another highlights NCRB data showing Manipur's murder rate at 4.7 per lakh, linked to ethnic clashes.
The Human and Ecological Toll
Beyond the headlines, the crisis exacts a silent toll. Relief camps in Imphal and Churachandpur brim with families like that of Boinu Haokip, whose future she describes as "bleak. Children miss school amid curfews and internet blackouts, and women face heightened risks of gender-based violence.Economically, the state—once a biodiversity hotspot with Loktak Lake's floating phumdis—grapples with flooded farmlands from Cyclone Remal and deforestation for barricades, threatening species like the endangered sangai deer.
Yet, glimmers of resilience shine through. Stories like that of Shitaljit Tongbram, a Kuki student who fled with just two T-shirts on May 3, 2023, and is now pursuing medicine, inspire hope.e918db Student-led initiatives at Manipur University preserve native flora, while the Maharaja invokes Gandhian non-violence for reconciliation.
Toward a Fragile Dawn?
As the second anniversary of the violence approaches in May 2026, experts urge federal action: disarming militias, reviving inclusive peace committees, and repealing AFSPA. Misinformation— from fake videos fueling riots to deepfakes on social media—remains a potent accelerant, as seen in recent Ladakh parallels.
Manipur's plight mirrors India's broader challenges: how to weave unity from diversity without erasing histories of marginalization. Without truth commissions and equitable resource-sharing, the "Wall of Remembrance" in Churachandpur may grow longer. As one X user poignantly noted, "From the ashes of forgotten songs, let a new harmony rise."be880a For now, the hills whisper of endurance, but the nation must listen before the divide becomes irreversible.
This article is based on reports from Human Rights Watch, BBC, The Indian Express, and real-time social media insights. For updates, follow [Your Website's Manipur Coverage]. Share your thoughts in the comments below.