New Delhi: A 19-year-old was killed, 16 others were injured, and 27 policemen sustained injuries after violent clashes broke out between Kuki demonstrators and security forces in Manipur’s Keithelmanbi, Kangpokpi district, Saturday afternoon.
As the situation spiralled out of control, with protesters setting vehicles on fire, hurling petrol bombs, and pelting stones, the police opened fire and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse them.
The Kuki protestors were opposing Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s directive allowing free movement across the state.
The 19-year-old killed due to a bullet injury in the exchange of fire between the miscreants and the security forces was identified as Lalgou Singsit.
Although Kuki civil society groups claim he died in police firing, police said that it is a matter of investigation.
“The protestor died due to bullet injury in exchange of fire but whether it was a bullet fired by the police or the miscreants, since they were heavily armed, is a matter of investigation,” a senior police officer said to ThePrint.
In a post on X Saturday night, Manipur Police wrote, “The security forces showed tremendous restraint while trying to control the unruly and violent mob and used minimum force to control and counter the anti social elements…”.
As per decision of the State Government dated 7th March, 2025 to arrange bus service by Manipur State Transport Buses under security escort to alleviate public inconveniences as an initiative towards bringing normalcy in the State from 8th March, 2025, Manipur State Transport Bus…
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) March 8, 2025
Public curfew has been imposed prohibiting movement of persons in and around Kangpokpi, Champhai, and Saitu-Gamphazol subdivisions of Kangpokpi district, particularly along NH-02 with immediate effect.
Last week, Amit Shah issued directions for the free movement of people on Manipur’s roads starting 8 March after chairing a high-level review meeting on the security situation in the ethnic strife-hit state.
Even since ethnic violence first erupted in the northeastern state in May 2023, Manipur has remained deeply divided, with Kukis concentrated in the hills and Meiteis in the valley. The valley, where the airport, key hospitals, schools, and colleges are located, has been entirely inaccessible to the Kukis and the Meiteis have not been able to travel to the hills. Ethnic violence has so far claimed at least 250 lives, and displaced over 50,000 people.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since 9 February, following the resignation of its chief minister N. Biren Singh.
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How it began
According to the senior police officer quoted above, the protestors stopped a state transport bus which was with the convoy traveling from Meitei dominated Imphal valley to Senapati in the hills, as part of an effort to ensure free movement of people in the state.
“A long discussion was held with members of the Kuki community regarding this movement, yet they gathered in large numbers to block the bus, accusing the police of transporting Meiteis to the hills. However, the bus was empty, there were no Meiteis inside,” the officer said.
Another such bus was dispatched from Churachandpur to Imphal Valley to facilitate the movement of Kukis to the airport. Although it was empty, it was not stopped anywhere, the officer added.
Protesters also blocked NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur highway), burned tyres, vandalised both government and private vehicles before they were dispersed, the officer said.
The police have registered a case in this regard.
“A case has been registered and the miscreants are being identified. Those who are injured are recuperating. Three policemen have been seriously injured, one of whom has sustained a severe injury in his eye,” the officer said.
‘Security forces’ excesses on the community’
Reacting to the clashes, the Kuki Zo council released a statement Saturday saying the Free Movement initiative of the government will be “staunchly opposed until a political solution for the Kuki-Zo community is reached for lasting peace in the region”.
It said that the recent actions of the state government to “send Meitei people into Kuki-Zo areas, despite ample warnings against such movements, have escalated tensions in the region.”
They said that the clashes led to the death of one person by police bullet and over 50 women have suffered serious injuries, which highlights the security forces’ excesses on the community.
“The security personnel employed forceful measures, which has only intensified the protesters’ resolve,” it said.
The statement added that the Kuki-Zo Council has expressed strong condemnation of this decision of the government to impose “free movement”.
“The government’s decision reflects a lack of sensitivity towards the ongoing conflict and the heightened emotions of the Kuki-Zo people,” it said.
It further said that while the idea of peace is indeed welcomed by all, it cannot be achieved through the “imposition of force at the expense of a particular community”.
“Real peace is built on mutual respect and understanding. Forcing peace upon unwilling parties can lead to resentment and further conflict, undermining the very goal of harmony. A sustainable peace must be fostered through careful consideration of the interest and aspiration of the affected community,” it said.
It said that it is crucial for the central government to address the underlying issues to prevent further unrest and protect public safety.
‘Act of defiance’
Meitei Heritage Society, too, issued a statement late Saturday saying that the clashes are deeply disturbing and a deliberate act of defiance by the Kukis, which directly challenges the decision of the Union Home Ministry to reopen the highways, a step taken towards restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur.
“By obstructing a national lifeline, the protesters have openly defied the authority of the Indian state and continue to hold hostage the people of all communities living in the landlocked valley districts,” it said.
It added, “India should not succumb to the handful of militants and groups propped up by them and demonstrate that those challenging the sovereignty of the Indian state and rule of law will face exemplary action”.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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The Kukis have been the root cause of this unrest and violence. The Meiteis clearly had no choice but to respond in kind.
As it us, the Kuki-Hmar-Zo people are residents of Myanmar. Over the last few decades, massive illegal immigration across the porous Indo-Myanmar border has resulted in a substantial Kuki population in India, especially in the hills of Manipur. This illegal immigration has been actively aided and abetted by various church organizations as almost all Kukis are Christians. That also is the primary reason why the European Union (EU), Canada, USA and the UN human rights organisations are so seriously concerned about the “situation” in Manipur. It’s just the Christian church pulling the strings behind the curtains.
The Indo-Myanmar agreement allowing free movement of people across the border for a distance of 100km further compounded the problem of combating illegal immigration.
The presence of such massive numbers of illegal immigrants in India, that too in the volatile north-east, is a serious national security threat. The Home Ministry must wake up and act before it’s too late.