Enduring Fracture

New Delhi’s attempt to enforce free movement exposes deeper ethnic fault lines in the restive northeastern state.

Manipur

The embers of Manipur’s ethnic conflict refuse to die down. The latest bout of unrest, centred around the Kuki-Zo-dominated districts of Kangpokpi and Churachandpur, erupted after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s directive to ensure free movement on all state highways. What ought to have been a routine order swiftly turned into a flashpoint, with protesters enforcing an indefinite shutdown, clashing with security forces, and blocking roads. At least one protester died while dozens, including security personnel, have been injured as the fragile peace remains elusive.

On the surface, the conflict appears to be a reaction to the government’s attempt to restore mobility across the state. But the roots of the unrest run deeper, reflecting the enduring animosities between the Meiteis, who dominate the valley, and the Kuki-Zo tribes, who control the surrounding hills. Ever since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023, Manipur has remained a state divided, both geographically and politically.

Shah’s March 1 directive was meant to restore a semblance of normalcy to a state that has seen over 250 deaths and thousands displaced in ethnic clashes over the past two years. Free movement across Manipur’s roads had been severely curtailed, with Kuki-Zo groups in the hills blocking Meitei access to their regions and vice versa. The Centre’s decision, however, was seen by the Kukis as an attempt to impose order at their expense.

Protests erupted almost immediately. In Kangpokpi and Churachandpur, demonstrators set up roadblocks, burned tyres, and clashed with security forces. When a state transport bus carrying Meitei passengers attempted to travel through Kangpokpi, violence escalated. Security forces responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and baton charges. Protesters fought back with catapults and stones. By nightfall, the violence had left one dead and more than 40 wounded.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a key Kuki-Zo body, accused security forces of using excessive force and condemned the government’s insistence on allowing Meitei access through Kuki-dominated areas. The ITLF and the Kuki-Zo Council extended their support to the shutdown, which has since paralysed daily life in Kuki strongholds. The shutdown is a demonstration of defiance against what Kukis see as an overbearing state apparatus that has long ignored their grievances.

Manipur’s troubles stem from a deeply fractured ethnic landscape. The Meiteis, constituting more than half the state’s population, dominate the Imphal Valley and hold disproportionate political and economic power. The Kuki-Zo and Naga tribes, who inhabit the hills, have long resented this dominance. Underlying these tensions are competing claims over land, political representation, and even historical narratives.

The latest wave of ethnic violence was triggered in May 2023 after a court order suggested extending Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meiteis - a move fiercely opposed by the Kukis. The subsequent clashes led to an exodus of populations from mixed areas, leaving the state more polarized than ever. The BJP-led government, widely seen as pro-Meitei, failed to act as an impartial arbiter, further alienating the Kuki-Zo community. The Centre eventually imposed President’s Rule in February 2025, suspending the state assembly. But rather than calming tensions, New Delhi’s direct intervention appears to have deepened the mistrust.

The clashes in Kangpokpi are a reminder that any attempt to enforce a top-down resolution to Manipur’s troubles will meet resistance. The state’s ethnic divide is not merely a law-and-order problem but a reflection of unresolved historical disputes. Shah’s directive was an attempt to restore normalcy, but its execution has revealed how brittle the peace in Manipur really is.

The Centre must acknowledge that security crackdowns alone will not pacify the state. Dialogue, however difficult, remains the only path forward. New Delhi must engage both Meitei and Kuki leaders in talks that address not just immediate security concerns but also long-standing grievances over land rights, political representation, and autonomy. Any attempt to impose order without consensus will only deepen the state’s fractures, ensuring that Manipur remains a tinderbox for years to come.