Month after Central rule imposition, Manipur continues to boil

Security crackdown triggers fresh violence & widespread fear

Even a month after the President’s rule was imposed, the northeastern state of Manipur remains on the edge with little sign of violence abating. As ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities escalate, fuelled by political unrest, security crackdowns, and territorial disputes, the state faces a deepening crisis. Residents wonder that after two years of continued strife, whether peace will ever return to their homeland.

For over two years, right from the time when ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, a northeastern state of India bordering Myanmar, the state government, led by Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister N Biren Singh, seemed unable and unwilling to curb violence.

Critics accused that instead of administering the state as its Chief Minister and doing all in his capacity to end the strife between the Meitei and Kuki tribes, Singh was siding with the Meiteis, the community to which he belongs.

After presiding over uninterrupted violence which in the past two years has seen over 270 Manipuris, both Kukis and Meiteis, killed and tens of thousands displaced, Singh finally resigned and the Centre imposed President’s Rule in the state.

While in the past impositions of President’s Rule due to failure of law and order in different states of India has seen quick and strong action by the Centre leading to a dip in violence, if not an end. However, in Manipur’s case, the Central government seems to as incapable as Singh in ending the violence.

A security crackdown under President’s Rule has intensified the crisis, deepening mistrust and fuelling fresh violence. With ongoing displacement, road blockades, and armed clashes, fear has gripped residents who are fleeing in search of safety. As demands for autonomy grow and accusations of government inaction mount, Manipur remains trapped in a cycle of unrest, with peace seeming more elusive than ever.

On March 8, the Indian government launched a large-scale security crackdown in Manipur, aiming to restore free movement on the state’s highways, which had been blocked by Kuki groups opposing the central rule. The move came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah ordered strict enforcement to ensure unrestricted access to key roads and supply routes. However, rather than restoring normalcy, the security operation led to fresh violence, with reports of clashes between security forces and protesters, resulting in multiple injuries and at least one fatality. In response, Kuki women’s groups enforced shutdowns across several districts, escalating tensions further.

The government’s hardline approach has deepened resentment among the Kuki community, who see the crackdown as an attempt to suppress their long-standing demands for political autonomy. The heavy deployment of security forces, mass detentions, and reports of human rights violations have intensified the divide, pushing Manipur closer to the brink of a prolonged conflict.

Origins of the Conflict

The conflict in Manipur is deeply rooted in ethnic tensions, territorial disputes, and political marginalisation. The state has a complex demographic makeup, with the Meitei community forming the majority in the valley, while the tribal Kuki-Zo and Naga groups primarily inhabit the hills. The region has long been a site of armed insurgency, fuelled by historical grievances, demands for autonomy, and deep-seated mistrust among ethnic groups.

Manipur was an independent kingdom before being annexed by India in 1949. The merger led to political unrest, with many Manipuris, particularly Meitei insurgents, opposing the move. Several insurgent groups emerged in the 1960s and 70s, demanding either an independent Manipur or greater autonomy within India. Meanwhile, tribal communities, particularly the Nagas and Kukis, sought separate administrative arrangements, further complicating the conflict.

During the 1990s, tensions between the Nagas and Kukis erupted into violent ethnic clashes, primarily over land disputes in the hill areas. The Naga insurgent group, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), sought a ‘Greater Nagaland’, which included parts of Manipur, while the Kukis resisted these claims, demanding their own self-rule. The conflict led to mass killings, displacements, and the formation of armed Kuki groups in response to Naga aggression.

The most recent and ongoing conflict erupted in May 2023, following a protest by the Kuki-Zo tribal community against a Manipur High Court ruling that recommended granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community. The Kuki-Zo, who already have ST status, opposed the move, fearing it would lead to Meitei dominance in land ownership and government jobs.

Violence quickly escalated, leading to large-scale displacements, arson, sexual violence, and armed clashes between the two communities.

In response to the unrest, the central government created buffer zones between the warring communities, patrolled by security forces. While this measure reduced immediate violence, it failed to address the underlying grievances, leaving the state in a fragile and deeply divided state.

For nearly 21 months, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government, under Chief Minister N Biren Singh, struggled to contain the crisis. The situation took a decisive turn in February, when Singh resigned amid internal party dissent and a looming no-confidence motion from the opposition Congress party. The inability of the ruling party to agree on a new chief minister led to the imposition of President’s rule on February 13, marking the 11th time in India’s post-independence history that the state has come under central rule the highest for any Indian state.

Somenanda Khangchrakpam from the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD) criticises Singh’s resignation as political drama, exposing growing dissent and instability in Manipur, where true normalcy remains a distant reality.

“For years, Singh claimed that the situation in Manipur was normal, but his resignation tells a different story. The assembly session was supposed to start on February 10, yet it was abruptly nullified a day before, raising serious questions. There were signs of dissent some legislators were reportedly considering a no-confidence motion, and even the chief of the commerce legislative party hinted at it on social media. Perhaps Singh knew he would lose,” Khangchrakpam tells Media India group.

The imposition of President’s rule signalled a shift toward a more authoritarian approach in an attempt to restore order. Following the March 1 security meeting, the Union Home Minister ordered the free movement of people and goods across Manipur, effective from March 8. However, this directive was met with immediate resistance from Kuki groups, who saw it as a move that ignored their concerns over security and autonomy. The Kuki Council’s opposition to unrestricted movement led to fresh blockades on highways, underscoring the fragile state of affairs.

A crisis worsened by Myanmar’s conflict

Manipur’s turmoil is further complicated by the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Myanmar, which has triggered an influx of refugees, illegal arms, and drug trafficking. The porous India-Myanmar border has long facilitated movement between ethnic kinship groups on both sides, making it difficult to contain the flow of insurgent activities.

“But beyond politics, we in Manipur remain trapped in a cycle of insurgency and gun culture. Criminal activities and armed groups still operate, making peace fragile. The central government may be planning a crackdown, but for now, the reality is complicated. Some might claim that certain areas are ‘normal,’ but the truth is, we still can’t move freely between communities. The divisions remain, and real normalcy is still far away,” Khangchrakpam adds.

“Despite overwhelming evidence of cross-border infiltration and drug cartel involvement, the Indian government has failed to take decisive action. The absence of a clear counterinsurgency strategy has only allowed this situation to persist,” he adds.

As violence escalated, the Kuki community have renewed their call for a separate administrative entity within the Indian Constitution, arguing that their safety and rights cannot be guaranteed under the existing state structure. Their demand for a separate Union Territory with a legislature has gained momentum, with many Kukis believing that systemic marginalisation and political impunity have left them with no alternative.

The deep-seated mistrust between the Meitei and Kuki communities is exacerbated by political and civil society leaders who have continued to make exclusionary assertions, denying the Kukis’ rights and further entrenching the divide. This has led to growing civil disobedience, including road blockades and shutdowns enforced by women-led groups, signalling widespread public frustration with both the state and central governments.

Even now, after the imposition of President’s Rule, which was expected to bring peace to Manipur, the people continue to live in fear. The violence may have reduced in intensity, but the uncertainty remains—residents still do not know if they will survive to see another day. The deep ethnic divisions, armed groups, and mistrust between communities persist, and the absence of a clear resolution has only added to the anxiety.

“Even after the imposition of President’s Rule, there is no real peace in Manipur only silence filled with fear. The violence may not be as open as before, but the danger has not disappeared. We don’t step out after dark, and even during the day, there is always a feeling of unease. Armed groups are still out there, and we don’t know when the next attack might come. We have lost faith in the authorities because they come, they promise, and then they leave us to fend for ourselves. Every night, we sleep with uncertainty, wondering if our homes will still be standing in the morning. Speaking up is dangerous. If my name gets out, I know I could be killed, just like so many others who dared to speak the truth,”  Jobinson Abraham, a resident of Manipur tells Media India Group.

Amid ongoing violence and uncertainty, many people are leaving Manipur, seeking safety in other states. Families who have lived in the state for generations are now forced to abandon their homes, livelihoods, and communities. The deepening ethnic conflict, coupled with a lack of trust in authorities, has made daily life unbearable. Those with financial means are relocating to cities like Guwahati, Delhi, and Bangaluru, while others are taking refuge in relief camps or with relatives outside the state. Fear, displacement, and an uncertain future weigh heavily on the minds of those fleeing.

For many, leaving Manipur is not a choice but a necessity for survival. One such individual, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, describes the painful decision to leave:

“I never imagined I would have to leave my home like this. My family has lived in Manipur for generations, but now, we are refugees in our own country. The situation here is terrifying people disappear overnight, homes are burned, and no one feels safe. We waited for things to improve, but instead, it only got worse. The government says they are in control, but the fear in our hearts tells a different story. My siblings couldn’t go to school, and every night, we slept wondering if we would wake up to gunfire. I had no choice but to take my family and leave everything behind. Even now, in another city, I can’t sleep properly. I keep thinking about the friends, neighbours, and relatives we left behind, hoping they are still alive. But how long can we live like this? How long will Manipur remain a place of fear instead of a home,” Saleema Akthar, a resident of Manipur  tells Media India Group.

More than 260 people have been killed and 60,000 displaced in a conflict rooted in ethnic divisions and the fight over tribal rights in Manipur.