MT Desk: The northeastern Indian state of Manipur has once again found itself at the centre of national debate. What began in May 2023 as ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities has evolved into one of the most prolonged and painful internal conflicts in recent Indian history. Over 260 people have lost their lives, nearly 60,000 have been displaced, and trust between communities has eroded at an alarming rate.
The violence has persisted despite the imposition of the President`s Rule in February 2025, following the resignation of then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. While security deployments have increased and efforts have been made to restore order, fresh protests in January and February 2026 signal that underlying grievances remain unresolved.
At the heart of the crisis lies a complex mix of land rights, identity politics, historical grievances and competing visions of autonomy. The Meitei community, which largely inhabits the Imphal Valley, forms a demographic majority in the state. The Kuki-Zo tribes, predominantly Christian and residing in the hill districts such as Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, consider themselves historically marginalised.
In 2023, tensions escalated after a demand by Meitei groups for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status — a designation that would grant them access to land and job protections currently reserved for tribal communities. Kuki-Zo leaders viewed this as a direct threat to their constitutional safeguards, fearing land encroachment in the hill districts. The situation spiralled into violence following protests organised by tribal groups. Homes were burned, churches and temples vandalised, and entire localities emptied as families fled to relief camps. Reports of killings and sexual violence shocked the nation and drew international attention.
The crisis in Manipur is not simply a clash between two communities. It is a warning about how fragile social harmony can become when grievances remain unaddressed. Ethnic identity, land rights and political power are deeply emotional issues. Mishandling them has consequences. Both communities must reject hate speech and retaliatory violence.
Civil society, church bodies, women`s groups and student unions have a role to play in rebuilding dialogue. Political leaders must show restraint and empathy rather than mobilising support through fear. Most importantly, the government must recognise that restoring "normalcy" is not the same as restoring trust. Roads can reopen, and curfews can lift, yet wounds may remain unhealed.
Manipur needs more than law and order. It needs a political settlement grounded in fairness, constitutional safeguards and mutual respect. Until that happens, the state will remain trapped in a cycle of protest, crackdown and renewed tension.