Editorial 1: As Modi visits Manipur, 5 key issues in war-torn state
Context: Prime Minister is scheduled to visit conflict torn Manipur. This is his first visit since the conflict broke out between Kuki and Meitei communities in 2023. The state is placed under President’s rule. Certain key challenges still remain to be solved.
Background of the conflict:
- The Kuki–Meitei conflict erupted in May 2023 in Manipur, though its roots are historical. Communities involved:
- Meiteis are the majority community (~53%), mainly Hindu, living in the Imphal valley.
- Kukis belong to the tribal groups, largely Christian, settled in the surrounding hill districts.
Immediate trigger:
- The Manipur High Court (April 2023) asked the state to consider granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Meiteis.
- Tribals opposed this, fearing loss of their constitutional land protections. A rally on 3 May 2023 turned violent, sparking widespread clashes.
Underlying Issues:
- ST demand by Meiteis vs. tribal land rights.
- Valley–hill divide: valley overcrowded, hills reserved for tribes.
- Migration from Myanmar & poppy cultivation, leading to mistrust.
- Ethnic identity & political power struggles.
Impact:
- The conflict has caused over 200 deaths and 60,000+ people are displaced. There have been instances of burning of homes, temples, and churches.
- It has also led to prolonged curfews, militarization, and internet bans.
Five key challenges still remain unresolved:
Rehabilitation of displaced People:
- More than 57000 people have been internally displaced with majority of them are living in 280 relief camps.
- These displaced people consist of those who lived in areas where other community is in majority. Many Kuki people have been displaced from Imphal and other valley towns, whereas Meiteis have been displaced from Kuki majority hill towns such as Moreh, and Churachandpur.
- Those people who lived in “fringe areas” at the frontier of Meitei-majority valley and Kuki-Zo-majority hills, close to the settlements of the other community has also been displaced. They have been displaced due to attack by other communities or apprehensions of such attack.
- The Chief Secretary of Manipur has announced three-phase rehabilitation program to close all the relief camps by returning the displaced people to their homes within a year.
Free Movement:
- The boundaries between hill districts and valley have been hardened due to conflict. These boundaries are guarded by security forces and have been turned into “buffer zones”.
- Neither of the communities can cross these buffer zones. Meiteis have been restricted to valley, and Kukis cannot access the Imphal Valley, including the airport here.
- Ahead of the PM’s visit, Home ministry has signed an agreement with Kuki-Zo groups to allow the movements of essential goods to the valley through the highway. But they have not let Meiteis access the highways.
- Government has not reached similar agreement with Meiteis for safe movement of Kuki-Zo people in the valley.
No inter-community dialogue:
- There has been no dialogue between the communities ever since the conflict broke out in 2023. Meiteis and Kuki are heavily armed. The conflict has already let to the loss of 250 lives.
- Though the violence has reduced significantly since last November, security officials describe this peace as “tenuous”.
- Ministry of Home Affairs has started separate dialogues with both the communities. Last week it renewed Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups.
- One of the clauses in this pact includes “honoring the territorial integrity of Manipur”. This is in contrast with the earlier demand by Kukis to push for the Union Territory with legislature.
- Meitei groups have objected to the pact as it grants legitimacy to armed Kuki-Zo groups, whom call the “narco terrorists”.
Government formation:
- Former CM resigned in February 2025. Within days of his resignation, President’s rule was imposed in the state.
- There has been growing push from valley-based and Naga MLAs for the restoration of “popular government”.
- The Centre has not shown such indication to lift the President rule yet.
Cross Border Infiltration:
- The state shares the porous international border with Myanmar.
- Meiteis have accused the unregulated illegal immigration of Chin people from the Myanmar. These illegal Chin immigrants share close ethnic ties with Kuki-Zo community and they are considered the major cause of volatility in the state.
- Free movement Regime with Myanmar allowed the movement of tribes living along the border on either side to travel up to 16 km in the other country without visa, and stay for up to two weeks.
- Centre has scrapped the free movement regime and announced that border will be fenced.
- This hurt the sentiments of Kukis and Nagas who share close ethnic and economic ties with people on both sides of the border.
Way Forward:
The Kuki-Meitei conflict highlights the fragile ethnic relations in the North East, raising concerns over land rights, migration, federalism, and minority protection. Sustainable peace requires inclusive dialogues, confidence building measures, and balanced constitutional safeguards for both communities.