Opinion Express View: Seize the lull in Manipur

It has been 21 months since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur, straining its social fabric. In the past few weeks, an uneasy calm has been maintained in the northeastern state, where faultlines have deepened between the Meiteis and the Kukis. The most severe episode of violence in recent months occurred in November 2024, when 22 people were killed over 11 days, the majority in Jiribam district — reassuringly, no casualties have been reported since then. The last major face-off was a shootout in the Kadangband area of Imphal West district, just hours after Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s New Year eve apology for the ongoing crisis. A day earlier, on December 31, a group of protesting Kuki women clashed with the CRPF, followed by a mob attack on the SP’s office in Kangpokpi district. Since then, Manipur has seen a lull in ethnic violence.

Meanwhile, an escalation of conflict in Myanmar’s Sagaing region, not far from Manipur’s Kamjong district, has sparked concerns about a potential spillover. Manipur shares a 400-km-long border with Myanmar to its south and east. The military and community ties between insurgents in both regions sharpen these fears. Amid airstrikes by the Burmese military and retaliation from rebel forces, more than 200 refugees from Myanmar have reportedly taken shelter near the Moreh border in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district since January 27. There have also been reports of deaths of Meiteis and Kukis fighting in Myanmar, with the former groups fighting alongside the junta, the latter with the rebels.

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As security forces combat the border threat, both the central and state governments should seize the lull as an opportunity to initiate meaningful reconciliation efforts. Peace is not merely the absence of war; Manipur remains a deeply divided state. The valley has been emptied of its last Kuki residents, just as the Kuki-dominated hills have seen the exodus of the Meiteis. The trust deficit between the two communities remains unaddressed, making the prospect of either group returning to their homes seem distant. Efforts towards normalcy must begin at the highest levels of leadership. The absence of any mention of Manipur in the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha this week signals a troubling lack of urgency. The Prime Minister is yet to visit Manipur since the ethnic conflict started on May 3, 2023. The Supreme Court is awaiting a forensic analysis of the audio tapes regarding Chief Minister Biren Singh’s alleged role in exacerbating the violence. None of this bodes well for trust-building. The Centre must expedite its efforts to bring back social harmony, Manipur cannot be allowed to slide back into the vicious circle of conflict.