The violence in Manipur has escalated to disturbing levels in November, once again thrusting the state into the national spotlight. Jiribam district, a region that had previously managed to avoid the communal tensions engulfing the rest of the state, was suddenly caught in a storm of violence, murder, and retaliatory strikes. Clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, the latter comprising various tribal groups, have led to the deaths of at least 20 people, igniting a cycle of violence that seems impossible to break.
The conflict began on November 7 with a shocking attack in Zairawn village in Jiribam. A Hmar woman, who was a schoolteacher and mother of three, was brutally raped, shot in the leg, killed, and then set on fire by unidentified assailants. The Hmar belong to the larger Kuki-Zo community, and this horrific incident led Kuki civil society groups to accuse Meitei militants of the crime. The attackers also destroyed homes, looted valuables, and stole several vehicles. Hmar residents claimed that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), stationed in the village for security, did nothing to intervene despite being in a position to protect the community.
The violence soon escalated, with suspected Kuki militants retaliating against Meitei individuals. On November 9, a Meitei woman was allegedly killed by Kuki militants while working in a paddy field in Bishnupur. In a dramatic escalation, two days later, 10 suspected Kuki militants were reportedly killed by the CRPF in a confrontation in Jiribam. The attackers were heavily armed and reportedly came from the Kuki-majority districts of Churachandpur and Pherzawl.
The situation worsened when, during the confrontation, three women and three children, including an eight-month-old baby, went missing. These individuals had been living in a relief camp for displaced Meitei families, and their disappearance fueled further tension. On November 15, the bodies of a woman and two children from the missing group were found floating in the Barak river in Assam’s Cachar district. The discovery of their remains sparked violent protests in Imphal, where demonstrators targeted the homes of key political figures, including R.K. Imo, the chief minister’s son-in-law, and other BJP lawmakers. The protests intensified as the enraged crowds stormed the residences of government ministers, and security forces were forced to use tear gas to control the situation.
On November 17, the bodies of another child and woman from the same family were found, further escalating the unrest. This tragic discovery was compounded by accusations from the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) that Meitei attackers had set fire to several Kuki homes, churches, and other properties in Jiribam, which fueled retaliatory violence. In a dramatic show of defiance, mobs also attacked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office and political offices in Jiribam, resulting in police opening fire, which led to at least one death.
The government's response to the rising violence has been disjointed and fractured. On November 18, BJP legislators in Manipur passed resolutions calling for a reimposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in some parts of the state. They also demanded a large-scale military operation to target Kuki militants and labeled them as members of an "unlawful organization." In an attempt to regain control, the state administration imposed curfews and suspended internet and mobile services in several affected districts, including Jiribam, and reintroduced AFSPA in areas prone to violence. The central government also deployed thousands of additional security personnel to the region.
However, civil society groups and activists have expressed skepticism over the effectiveness of these measures. They have called for more decisive action and greater cooperation among political leaders to end the crisis. Khuraijam Athouba, spokesperson for the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Meitei civil rights organization, urged the state’s leadership to resolve the crisis through dialogue and unity. Kuki groups have also voiced concerns, with some advocating for the withdrawal of the CRPF from Kuki-dominated areas, highlighting the deepening divide over security policies.
The violence in Manipur has exposed the failure of the state government to maintain control over the situation. Even Irom Sharmila, the renowned rights activist, has called on Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to step down, holding him responsible for the ongoing unrest. The BJP’s ideological ally, the RSS, also condemned the killing of women and children and urged the state and central governments to expedite efforts to resolve the violence.
Meanwhile, the National People’s Party (NPP), a key ally of the BJP in the state, withdrew its support for the government, accusing it of failing to restore order. NPP leader Conrad Sangma openly criticized Biren Singh’s leadership, stating that the government had failed to resolve the crisis. While the NPP’s withdrawal does not pose an immediate threat to the state government’s stability, it marks a clear sign of political disillusionment and frustration within the ruling alliance.
The central government's reluctance to take significant action has only compounded the situation. Despite mounting calls for the removal of Chief Minister Biren Singh or the imposition of president’s rule, the BJP-led central government has shown no signs of moving decisively. Critics argue that this reluctance stems from political considerations, as Singh remains a key figure in the BJP's strategy for securing support from the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley. Moreover, the government’s hesitation to impose president’s rule reflects its fear of alienating the Meitei base and exacerbating the ethnic divisions in the state.
Biren Singh’s frustration has reportedly grown, as he feels increasingly sidelined in decision-making processes related to security. The unified command structure, which is responsible for coordinating security operations, is reportedly dominated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s appointees, such as Kuldiep Singh, the state’s security advisor, and Rajiv Singh, the director general of police. The chief minister has even called for greater control over security decisions, particularly the unified command, but his demands have so far gone unheeded.
The central government’s inaction has been compounded by its failure to address the issue of weapons proliferation in the state. Over 6,500 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition have been looted, yet there has been little progress in disarming the various factions involved in the violence. The growing presence of firearms in the region, combined with the lack of meaningful action on the ground, has further fueled the unrest and deepened the divisions between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
The political deadlock and governance failures are symptomatic of a broader issue in Manipur—deep-rooted ethnic tensions and a long history of discrimination, resource struggles, and political mismanagement. The violence that erupted in May 2023, sparked by a court order on the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe category, is just one manifestation of these long-standing grievances. The Meitei-majority valley and the Kuki-dominated hill districts have become entrenched in a bitter struggle for political dominance and control over key resources, such as land, security, and government representation.
Some experts argue that the violence in Manipur is driven, in part, by the region’s drug trade, which reportedly involves powerful local factions and criminal networks that control the lucrative trade routes in the area. The unrest can be viewed as a battle for control over these routes, with both sides using the chaos to secure their hold on this parallel economy. The proximity of Manipur to Myanmar, a key source of illegal drugs, has further complicated the situation, as insurgent groups and criminal organizations vie for power in the state.
The violent events of November in Jiribam serve as a reminder of how fragile peace can be in Manipur, a state where ethnic tensions run deep and governance is fragile. As the violence continues to engulf the region, the possibility of reconciliation seems increasingly distant. The future of Manipur hinges on finding a lasting solution to the ethnic divide, addressing the grievances of both the Meitei and Kuki communities, and ensuring that the state is not torn apart by the flames of sectarian violence. Until then, the crisis will persist, with no easy resolution in sight.
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