Hundreds of Kuki women gathered outside the Superintendent of Police’s office in Kangpokpi district late on Sunday night amid heavy rain, demanding an end to what they described as selective security operations targeting their community while unresolved cases involving Kuki civilians remain pending.
The midnight protest later moved along National Highway-2 toward the Deputy Commissioner’s office, reflecting growing frustration within the community nearly three years after the outbreak of Manipur’s ethnic conflict.
The protests continued on Monday ( June 22 ) Â as an emergency highway shutdown called by Kuki civil society organisations (CSOs) entered its second day. Clashes were reported near New Keithelmanbi on NH-37 after security forces attempted to clear the blockade. According to the Kuki Inpi South West Sadar Hills (KISW-SH), security personnel used tear gas, blank firing and baton charges, leaving at least three protesters critically injured. The organisation described the action as excessive and alleged state bias.
The roots of the current tensions trace back to May 3, 2023, when ethnic violence erupted between the valley-based Meitei community and the hill-based Kuki-Zo tribes over issues including land, political representation and demands for Scheduled Tribe status. The conflict has resulted in more than 250-258 deaths, displaced over 60,000 people and damaged hundreds of churches and temples. The state remains divided by buffer zones monitored by security forces.
By early 2026, tensions expanded beyond Meitei-Kuki clashes and began affecting relations between Kuki and Naga groups in districts such as Kangpokpi and Senapati. Kuki organisations have alleged that cadres of NSCN-IM and the ZUF-Kamson faction, or their proxies, targeted Kuki civilians. They cited the killing of 14 Kuki civilians, the burning of 11 villages and a bomb blast on June 15 that injured several youths.
Among the incidents highlighted was the May 13 ambush in which three Kuki church leaders — Rev. Dr. Vumthang Sitlhou, Rev. Kaigoulun Lhouvum and Pastor Paogoulen Sitlhou — were killed while returning from a church conference focused on peace. Several others were injured in the attack.
Protesters also referred to the 2023 killing and reported mutilation of David Thiek, a Kuki village volunteer whose beheading became one of the most widely cited symbols of the conflict’s brutality. They also mentioned the deaths of 14 other Kuki civilians and six Nagas, calling for impartial investigations into all cases regardless of ethnicity.
Kuki leaders, including KISW-SH and Kuki Inpi Manipur, have argued that security operations involving village searches, bunker demolitions and weapon seizures disproportionately target Kuki-Zo areas and Village Volunteers. They maintain that alleged perpetrators linked to Naga militant factions continue to operate without similar action being taken against them. These concerns have fueled allegations of selective enforcement by the state, even during periods of central oversight under President’s Rule.
Government, however, say that security operations are aimed at restoring normalcy in a region affected by armed groups, illegal bunkers and longstanding insurgencies. The security situation remains complex due to the presence of organisations such as NSCN-IM and different ZUF factions. Incidents involving hostage-taking, retaliatory abductions and factional clashes have further complicated the situation.
The highway shutdowns have affected key transport routes, including the Imphal-Jiribam corridor, disrupting movement, trade and supplies. KISW-SH has warned that further mobilisation could follow if demands for impartial action against all armed groups are not addressed.
Kuki civil society groups have also raised concerns about inadequate protection for hill villages after the 2023 violence, slow progress in investigations and a lack of convictions despite thousands of FIRs. They argue that broader issues, including rehabilitation of displaced people, inter-community dialogue, land rights, demographic concerns and governance challenges, remain unresolved.
The crisis has exposed deeper structural tensions in Manipur, including competing ethnic claims, historical grievances and the re-emergence of militant activity. The displacement caused by the 2023 violence has left many communities living in separate areas, while recent Kuki-Naga tensions have created new divisions.
The return of a BJP-led government in early 2026 after President’s Rule raised hopes for stronger intervention, but trust remains low. Kuki groups continue to demand transparent investigations, unbiased prosecutions and equal scrutiny of all parties involved. Similar concerns have also been raised by civil rights organisations and international observers, including Amnesty International.
