New Delhi: One Kuki man was killed and 48 Kuki people were injured today, March 8, as violent clashes erupted in Manipur, on the first day on which Union home minister Amit Shah’s order of free movement between the valley and the hills came into force. Police have said that 27 security personnel were injured as well.
Meitei-majority valley areas and Kuki-majority hill areas had been closed to members of the other community since violence erupted in May 2023.
This is the first death in ethnic clashes in Manipur since the state went into President’s Rule on February 13 this year.
The violence on March 8 began when a Meitei group marched toward the hill districts, leading to confrontations with Kuki-Zo community members attempting to block their entry.
The Meitei group had attempted to enter both Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts but clashes erupted only on the Kangpokpi side. The biggest clash occurred near Gamgiphai, the ‘buffer zone’ – thought to be no man’s land – beyond which Kangpokpi district begins, where the Kuki-Zo community has been in the majority since May 3, 2023.
Security personnel stand guard amid protests and blockades by Kuki tribe on day one of their Manipur Free Movement, Kangpokpi district, Saturday, March 8, 2025. Photo: PTI
The local media outlet Elite TV reported that when Kuki groups obstructed a bus at Kangpokpi, they were eventually dispersed using tear gas and lathicharge by central forces.
Out of the 48 Kuki people who sustained injuries, 22 are women and 16 are critical, The Wire has learnt from multiple sources.
According to the Kuki organisation Committee on Tribal Unity, the Kuki man who was killed in Kangpokpi during the clashes was a volunteer whose role was to guard Kuki villages. The deceased L. Lalgou Singsit was 26 years old, and from Sharon Veng Keithelmanbi Military Colony of Kangpokpi district. He succumbed to injuries at the Gamgiphai buffer zone.
The injured were rushed to healthcare facilities, with 35 currently receiving treatment at Motbung Primary Healthcare Centre in Kangpokpi district, just one kilometre from a Buffer Zone. Several vehicles were also torched during the unrest.
List of injured at the primary healthcare centre. Photo: By arrangement.
Police version
According to Manipur Police, “the attackers pelted stones at the bus, prompting security forces to intervene using tear gas and minimum force to disperse the crowd. Roadblocks were erected at multiple points along the National Highway, where large numbers of protesters – including women and children – attempted to obstruct movement by felling trees, placing boulders, and setting fire to tyres.”
“Amidst the escalating situation, the protest turned violent, with armed miscreants allegedly firing at security personnel. In response, the forces retaliated. The clash resulted in 27 security personnel sustaining injuries, including two who were critically wounded. Manipur Police stated that the security forces exercised “tremendous restraint” in handling the situation, but in the ensuing confrontation, 16 protesters were injured, and one protester succumbed to their injuries. Additionally, two security force vehicles were set ablaze by the protesters.” read the statement.
Manipur Police said allegations by Kuki organisations that security forces were escorting local protesters were “totally baseless and false.”
Meitei civil society condemns highway blockade, calls for decisive action
In a statement on today’s events in Manipur’s Kangpokpi, a Meitei civil society organisation described the situation as a highway blockade by Kuki protesters, which led to security forces intervening.
The statement reads, “This is a deeply disturbing and deliberate act of defiance, which directly challenges the decision of the Union Home Ministry to reopen the highways, a step taken towards restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur.”
It further adds, “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.”
The organisation urged authorities to “take decisive action against those responsible for these blockades, ensuring that free movement and essential supplies are not held hostage by vested interests.”
Union home minister Amit Shah announced on March 1 that all routes in Manipur would be opened for free movement starting March 8, with strict action against those obstructing the process. Following Shah’s directive, the Federation of Civil Societies (FOCS), a coalition of nearly 20 valley-based organisations, called for a “March to the Hills,” further escalating tensions as Meiteis attempted to enter the hills.
Kuki leaders reject ‘imposed peace’
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) denounced the government’s approach, likening it to the imposition of President’s Rule. ITLF spokesperson Ginza Vualzong said:
“Peace cannot be imposed or forced. The ethnic conflict has led to the loss of countless lives and properties, and the wounds remain fresh and deep. True peace will only be achieved through a political settlement.”
The Kuki-Zo community remains steadfast in its demand for a separate administration, arguing that forced reconciliation without constitutional safeguards will only escalate tensions.
Kuki protesters during a road blockade on day one of their Manipur Free Movement, Kangpokpi district, Saturday, March 8, 2025. Photo: PTI
FOCS march sparks new confrontations
Kuki-Zo groups were strongly opposed to the FCOS march, describing it as provocation that disregards the security situation.
The Committee on Tribal Unity’s spokesperson Lun told The Wire, “Kuki-Zo women gathered here at Gamgiphai on March 8 to express our resentment against the so-called ‘peace march’ organised by valley-based civil society organisations. This march, which involves trespassing into Kuki-Zo areas through buffer zones, is an unacceptable provocation.”
Lun accused FOCS of pushing an “expansionist ideology of Meitei supremacists” and misinterpreting the governor’s peace initiative, which sought unhindered highway access through Kuki-Zo-dominated areas.
COTU also warned against a repeat of the Jiribam incident, where radical Meitei groups allegedly used the chief minister’s escort convoy to attack Kuki villages. The group has urged authorities to ensure that such violence is not repeated.
COTU held security forces responsible for any potential violence, warning that the Meitei group’s planned passage through Kuki-Zo areas could inflame tensions further.
Call for NRC and indigenous identity reforms
On March 7, a day before free movement was implemented, leaders from Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Meitei Alliance met in New Delhi to discuss unity and indigenous rights. Led by M. James Thadou and Sagolsem Biramani, the meeting underscored the need for a collaborative approach to resolve the state’s ethnic tensions.
A key topic of discussion was the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to protect the rights of indigenous communities. Delegates also advocated for removing “Any Kuki tribes” from the Scheduled Tribes list, arguing that much of Manipur’s unrest stems from illegal immigration.
Note: This article has been updated since publication with the Manipur Police’s statement.
