New Delhi: A day after the formation of a popular government in Manipur, the Kuki Zo community led massive protests in Tuibong, Churachandpur district, with heavy stone pelting reported from the area late Thursday. Manipur Police said two of the protesters attempted self-immolation in the afternoon, but the security personnel’s timely intervention prevented any injury. The situation, though, turned tense by evening.
Speaking about the protests, Ginza Vualzong, a spokesperson of the Kuki-Zo Council, told ThePrint over the phone Thursday, “Ever since Pi Nemcha Kipgen took the oath as deputy chief minister yesterday [Wednesday], emotions have been running high among the people. The move is widely perceived as a betrayal of the collective sentiments of those who have endured unspeakable atrocities at the hands of the Meiteis.”
The formation of the new Manipur government under BJP’s Yumnam Khemchand Singh, a Meitei, came after nearly a year of President’s Rule. It was imposed following the resignation of then-CM N. Biren Singh in February 2025 amid prolonged ethnic tensions.
The Kuki-Zo Council, an umbrella body formed in October 2024 representing the Kuki-Zo tribes, claimed several protesters were injured in Thursday’s clashes, though there was no official confirmation on the injured at the time of filing this report. It also announced a social boycott of Kuki MLAs, including Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and MLAs L.M. Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate—all of whom participated in forming the new government.
“The participation of Kuki-Zo MLAs in the formation of the Manipur government is viewed as tantamount to joining the enemy. There is a strong belief that these MLAs have prioritised their political careers over the pain, suffering, and sentiments of their own people,” Vualzong said, describing the unrest as public anger “spilling” onto the streets. “The security forces tried to disperse the crowd, and that’s when the confrontation happened.”
In its statement, the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), thanking those who didn’t join the popular government, upheld its demand for a separate administration.
Both the KSO and the council have been advocating for a separate Union Territory and legislature for Kuki-Zo residents of Manipur. “The organisation expresses deep grief, dismay and rightful indignation toward those legislators who chose to betray the very people who entrusted them with representation,” the KSO’s statement read.
The organisation added that the participation of MLAs was in direct “contravention to solemn resolution adopted at the NAMPI conclave in Guwahati, thereby eroding unity at the time of collective resolve”.
NAMPI was a gathering of leaders from the Kuki-Zo community held in Guwahati, Assam, on 15–16 November last year under the banner, ‘Unity in Action: Securing Land, Legislature and Future for Kuki-Zo People’, and saw participation from a cross-section of Kuki-Zo leaderships, including Kuki Zo Council (KZC), Zomi Council (ZC), Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Kuki Inpi (KI), and Kuki Chief Association (KCA), as well as MLAs.
A 24-hour total shutdown has been called across Churachandpur district on 7 February. A massive rally opposing the installation of the popular government is also planned on the same day. “A 24-hour total shutdown across Churachandpur district will take place tomorrow—as a democratic expression of solidarity and protest,” the KSO statement said.
Talking about Thursday’s protests, a senior police officer told ThePrint on condition of anonymity, “A crowd of 40-50 people gathered in protest Thursday evening and when the police tried to disperse them, there was a clash. A few vehicles were set on fire by the mob. Two policemen were also injured in the stone pelting. Heavy security has been deployed in the area. The situation, although tense, is now under control.”
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic violence between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo communities since 2023, resulting in deaths, displacement, and widespread destruction.
Since the outbreak of the violence, the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo people have largely been living separately in the valley and hill districts, respectively, maintaining what residents refer to as a “buffer zone” between the two areas.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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