Manipur Violence: Conflict Background and Timeline
A
new chapter of violence in Manipur is raising serious concerns. The Meitei-Kuki
conflict, which has affected the state since May 2023, has not fully ended, and
violence between the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities in the hill districts has
opened another front. The recent killings of civilians have deepened concerns
that the ethnic violence in Manipur is no longer confined to a conflict between
two communities. Instead, old regional, ethnic and political disputes appear to
be resurfacing in different hill areas. The killing of 17-year-old Liangmai
Naga student N.K. Vifenbo in September, followed by other incidents, points to
the seriousness of the situation.
The
most tragic aspect of Vifenbo's killing is that he was not involved in any
political or armed activity. He was travelling towards Tamei to buy essential
supplies for his family when he was killed in an ambush. Such incidents do not
merely devastate a family; they create fear across an entire area. When even a
teenager travelling between villages cannot feel safe, it becomes clear how
deeply violence has affected ordinary life.
Other
killings following the incident have made the situation even more serious. The
killing of four Tangkhul Naga civilians in Kamjong and the shooting of Naga
civilians in Senapati have heightened tensions. According to available reports,
several people have been killed in attacks involving the Naga and Kuki-Zo
communities in September. Investigations into the identities of the attackers
and their motives are still underway. Therefore, it is important to wait for
the findings of the investigations before assigning final responsibility for
any particular incident.
The
present situation in Manipur cannot be understood only through the latest
incidents. It has a background of decades-old mistrust and disputes over land
and territorial rights. The Kuki and Naga communities also experienced
widespread violence in the 1990s. Large numbers of people were killed and
thousands were displaced during that period. One of the important factors
behind that conflict was the different positions taken by the two communities
over land, administrative rights and their respective political claims in the
hill areas.
This
older dispute helps explain the background to the present developments.
However, the current situation is not an exact repetition of the 1990s.
Manipur's social and political circumstances have changed. The Meitei-Kuki-Zo
conflict that began in May 2023 has already had a deep impact on the state's
social fabric. The growing violence between Naga and Kuki-Zo communities in the
hill areas has now made the crisis even more complicated. Human rights
organisations have also expressed concern over the recent violence and reported
that dozens of people have been killed in the conflict between Naga and Kuki-Zo
communities since February 2026.
The
most important aspect of this crisis is that questions of land, identity and
political influence are becoming increasingly interconnected in the language of
violence. The populations of different communities overlap in several hill
districts. Some areas are predominantly Naga, some are predominantly Kuki-Zo,
while others have mixed populations. In such circumstances, the question of
political or administrative control over an area is not merely about a boundary
drawn on a map. It is closely linked to a community's identity, security,
future and sense of traditional rights.
This
is where the problem becomes even more difficult. When one community considers
an area its historical land and another claims long-standing residence and
rights in the same area, the space for compromise gradually becomes narrower.
Political organisations and armed groups can use such sentiments to expand
their influence. The result is that ordinary civilians end up paying the price
for conflicts in which they have no role in deciding the outcome.
This
is the most serious concern arising from the current violence in Manipur. When
civilians are killed, mistrust between communities grows further. Villages are
then emptied because of security concerns, movement is disrupted and economic
activity comes to a halt. Road blockades, economic shutdowns and protests may
follow. Such measures may be intended to put pressure on a particular community
or authority, but their impact is also felt by ordinary people. Recently, the
United Naga Council announced the suspension of its economic blockade following
talks with the central and state governments. This provides an opportunity for
dialogue, but turning that opportunity into lasting peace will be a much
greater challenge.
It
is also important to recognise that the problem in Manipur cannot be resolved
simply by increasing the number of security personnel. The deployment of the
Army, Assam Rifles and Central Armed Police Forces may help control violence in
the immediate term, but guns cannot resolve questions rooted in land, identity,
administrative rights and political representation. Security is necessary, but
it must go hand in hand with political dialogue and efforts to rebuild trust.
The
first priority must be to ensure the safety of civilians. The killing of an
innocent person from any community cannot be allowed to become a justification
for collective action against another community. Every killing must be
investigated fairly, those responsible must be identified and action must be
taken according to law. If the involvement of an armed organisation emerges
during an investigation, action should be taken against it. At the same time,
it is equally important to maintain a clear distinction between allegations
against specific groups and collective blame against an entire community.
Alongside
this, the central and state governments need to establish a sustained process
of dialogue between Naga and Kuki-Zo representatives. Such a dialogue should
not focus only on immediate violence. It should also address fundamental issues
such as land, traditional rights, administrative boundaries, village security,
the return of displaced people and economic activity. A peace process can
become sustainable only when communities have confidence that their concerns
are being heard and that the security of one side will not come at the expense
of the other.
Another
caution is essential in Manipur: the memories of violence from the 1990s must
not be allowed to dictate present-day politics. Understanding history is
important, but history should not be used to justify revenge in the present.
The pain caused by past violence must be acknowledged, but passing that
violence on to a new generation cannot lead to a solution.
The
real challenge before Manipur today is not merely to stop violence, but also to
remove the fear that violence leaves behind in society. The killing of a
teenager while travelling to a market, the killing of women working in fields,
shootings in villages and people's fear of leaving their homes are all signs
that the problem has moved beyond a simple law-and-order issue and has become a
crisis of social trust.
If Manipur is to return to normalcy, the sound of guns must eventually give way to the sound of dialogue. The government will have to work simultaneously on three fronts—security, justice and dialogue. Whether they are Naga, Kuki-Zo or members of any other community, the safety of citizens cannot depend on their ethnic identity. Ultimately, the future of Manipur will depend on how firmly the state can assure its citizens that their lives, land and dignity will be protected by the law, not by armed groups.
The
greatest need today is to prevent violence from turning into permanent
hostility between communities. If another generation grows up in an atmosphere
of fear and retaliation, the crisis in Manipur will not only become more
prolonged but will also leave an even more difficult legacy for generations to
come.
1.
Ethnic Conflict Began on May 3, 2023
The
Incident:
The
Manipur violence began on May 3, 2023, when clashes broke out between the
majority Meitei community living in the Imphal Valley and Kuki and other tribal
communities living in the surrounding hills. By July 4, 142 people had been
killed and more than 300 injured in the Manipur violence. Around 54,488 people
were reported to have been internally displaced during this period.
2.
ST Status Demand Became a Major Cause of the Dispute
Background:
One
of the major issues behind the Manipur violence was the long-standing demand of
the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Tribal communities feared
that the special constitutional privileges associated with ST status could
affect their existing rights and protections.
In
April 2023, the Manipur High Court directed the state government to take a
decision on the Meitei community's demand for ST status within four weeks.
Tribal organisations opposed the demand, adding to the tensions that later
contributed to the Manipur violence.
3.
Tribal Solidarity March Held on May 3
Developments:
The
Manipur violence followed a Tribal Solidarity March organised by the All Tribal
Students' Union of Manipur (ATSUM) in the state's hill districts on May 3,
2023. During and after the march, clashes broke out between Meitei and Kuki
communities in and around Churachandpur district, which borders the Imphal
Valley. The violence soon spread to wider areas of the state.
4.
Security Forces Deployed to Control the Violence
Government
Action:
To
contain the Manipur violence and restore law and order, around 10,000 personnel
of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces were deployed in the state. Internet
services were suspended for five days. Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code was
also imposed to restrict gatherings that could potentially disturb public order.
In
highly sensitive areas, security forces were also given “shoot-at-sight” orders
to enforce curfew and control the Manipur violence.
5.
Investigation and Peace Mechanisms Set Up
Investigation:
A
panel headed by a retired Chief Justice was announced to investigate the
Manipur violence. A Peace Committee was also proposed under the leadership of
the Governor and Security Adviser Kuldiep Singh, with representatives from
civil society included in the process.
The
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was entrusted with investigating six
cases related to an alleged conspiracy behind the Manipur violence. The
objective was to ensure an impartial investigation into the possible conspiracy
and the underlying causes of the conflict.
6.
Video Showing Abuse of Women Emerged
Incident
of July 19, 2023:
On
July 19, a video emerged on social media showing two Kuki women being paraded
naked through a crowd. The video also appeared to show alleged sexual violence
and abuse against one of the women during the Manipur violence.
The
video surfaced more than two months after the incident. At the time, internet
services remained restricted in Manipur. One of the victims alleged that the
police had left them with the mob during the Manipur violence.
The
following day, July 20, then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh defended the
internet restrictions in the state, saying that several such incidents had been
reported during the Manipur violence.
Historical
and Geographical Background of the Manipur Conflict
7.
Geographical Divide Between the Valley and Hills
Geographical
Background:
The
Manipur violence needs to be understood against the state's geographical
structure, which can broadly be divided into the Imphal Valley and the
surrounding hill regions. The valley is predominantly inhabited by the Meitei
community, while the surrounding hills have large populations of tribal
communities such as the Naga and Kuki-Zomi.
This
geographical division has long influenced the social, political and
administrative structure of Manipur and has also shaped the background to the
Manipur violence.
8.
Kuki Settlement During the British Period
Historical
Background:
The
historical background of the Manipur violence is also linked to settlement
patterns during British rule. To protect the valley from attacks by Naga groups
from the northern hills, people belonging to the Kuki-Zomi community were
brought from the hills of Burma and settled along the edges of the hill areas.
These
settlements were viewed as a kind of “buffer” or protective shield. Over time,
this settlement pattern influenced the region's ethnic composition and made
relations between different communities more complex, contributing to the
historical context of the Manipur violence.
9.
Manipur's Merger with the Indian Union in 1949
Political
Background:
The
Manipur violence also has a broader political context. In 1949, Manipur merged
with the Indian Union. Following this, different local groups and insurgent
organisations periodically raised demands relating to political rights,
autonomy and other issues.
These
demands continued to influence the state's politics and social relations over
the years and form part of the wider background to the Manipur violence.
Land
and Rights-Related Dispute
10.
Special Land Rights Provisions in the Hill Areas
Legal
Position:
The
Manipur violence is closely connected to special provisions governing land
ownership and settlement in the state's hill areas. Scheduled Tribe communities
have special protection over land and traditional rights in these regions. The
Meitei community, on the other hand, does not have Scheduled Tribe status.
As
a result, the ability of the Meitei community to purchase land and settle in
the hill areas has remained restricted, while tribal communities are permitted
to purchase land and reside in the valley. These differences in land rights
have been an important part of the background to the Manipur violence.
11.
Meitei Community's Demand for ST Status
The
Core Dispute:
The
Manipur violence is also linked to the long-standing demand of the Meitei
community for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The community has cited concerns
relating to its cultural identity, land rights and constitutional protection in
support of the demand.
At
the same time, Naga and Kuki communities living in the hill areas have
expressed concern that if the Meitei community were granted ST status, it could
become eligible to purchase land and settle in the hill regions. They have
feared that this could affect tribal land rights and their distinct identity,
adding to the tensions underlying the Manipur violence.
Expansion
of the Conflict in 2023
12.
Violence Followed the Tribal Solidarity March
Immediate
Course of Events:
The
Manipur violence intensified after tensions rose during the Tribal Solidarity
March organised under the leadership of ATSUM on May 3, 2023, in opposition to
the demand for ST status for the Meitei community. Clashes between the Meitei
and Kuki communities followed.
The
Manipur violence gradually spread across the Imphal Valley and surrounding hill
districts. It resulted in significant loss of life, large-scale displacement
and prolonged ethnic tensions and political instability across the state.
13.
Impact of the Violence Goes Beyond the Immediate Events
Wider
Impact:
The
Manipur violence has caused not only deaths and displacement but also severe
damage to trust between different communities. The existing social and
political distance between the valley and the hills has widened further.
For
this reason, the Manipur violence cannot be viewed merely as a one-day incident
or an immediate law-and-order problem. Its deeper background includes
long-standing concerns over land, identity, political rights, administrative
arrangements and the security of different communities.
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