September 15, 2025 11:47 AM IST
First published on: Sep 15, 2025 at 07:37 AM IST
Manipur captured the public imagination on May 3, 2023. Unfortunately, it wasn’t because of its famed Raas Leela, its refined cuisine, or even because of how it had long been India’s gateway to Southeast Asia. This time, Manipur was in conflict, after years of relative peace. Ethnic violence had broken out between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo people. An estimated 258 people were killed and over 60,000 were displaced between May 2023 and February 2025, when President’s rule was imposed in the state.
This was not the first time that the state had witnessed ethnic violence. It was in 1992 that the Naga-Kuki conflict broke out and lasted for over six years, leading to the deaths of more than 1,000 and the displacement of up to 100,000 people. But many may not have heard of the Naga-Kuki conflict. Seemingly, the significant difference between then and now is the presence of social media and round-the-clock news channels that have brought every minute detail of the Meitei–Kuki-Zo conflict to every phone and television set in the country.
This hyper vigilance made the recent conflict, everyone’s conflict. There was renewed interest in the northeast region’s security imperatives, new community leaders emerged, and the political Opposition thought it had finally found a new lease of life. But most importantly, many found a reason to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi not just because the conflict had broken out under his watch but also because he had not relented to the demand of a visit to Manipur. This may have even cost the BJP the two Lok Sabha seats from the state.
However, on September 13, 2025, the story changed. Prime Minister Modi visited Manipur. He first travelled to the Kuki-Zo dominated Churachandpur and then to the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal. Even though the weather conditions made it difficult for him to land in Churachandpur, he made the decision to travel one and a half hours by road to address the gathering.
Modi’s messaging was finely curated as well. In the hill areas of Manipur where the grievance has been the lack of development, especially in healthcare, Modi laid the foundation for projects which included super-specialty healthcare infrastructure, hostels for working women, enhancement of higher secondary schools, and infotech development, among others. In Imphal, where the Meiteis dominate, a community that has at times felt that their contributions have been “unseen”, Modi spoke about the many “bravehearts” that were involved in Operation Sindoor with a special mention of Deepak Chingakham who was martyred during the Operation. He also mentioned Ima Keithel, Asia’s oldest women-run marketplace, keeping in mind the crucial role of women in the Meitei community. This was in addition to the launch of infrastructure projects.
It was through Governor Ajay Bhalla that some of the critical messaging was delivered. The Governor reinforced the idea of Churachandpur being a symbol of “rich cultural diversity”. Churachandpur, while named after a famed Meitei King, is now dominated by the Kuki-Zo community. The Governor also addressed the issue of the influx of illegal immigration, reaffirming the state and the Central government’s commitment to preventing it. This is an issue that has been fiercely debated between the Kuki-Zo people and the Meiteis.
Clearly, those who relentlessly demanded that Modi visit Manipur have got what they asked for and more. While there were some who felt that he would add a “healing touch”, there were others who used it for political leverage. The fact is that the government responds in a systematic manner. First, it emphasises containing the violence, then on reconciliation, and finally, on rehabilitation and the way forward. Modi’s visit is a signal that Manipur is between the second and the third phase.
Violence in Manipur was further contained after the Centre decided to impose President’s rule in February this year. This was followed by a series of efforts to bring both the warring communities to the negotiating table. The recently held talks with Kuki-Zo armed groups resulted in a renewed SoO (Suspension of Operations) agreement to relocate camps and the opening of communication channels to negotiate further. Because of enhanced security deployment, looted weapons are being returned or retrieved. The legitimate concern of illegal infiltration is being addressed with proposed measures such as fencing, biometrics, and new regulations for the Free Movement Regime.
The writer is an anthropologist and a scholar of the northeast region of India and South Asia. She is presently a Distinguished Fellow at India Foundation, New Delhi
