Manipur's Ethnic Conflict Escalates with New Violence and Divisions

The killing of six women and children and the deaths of 10 alleged militants deepen tensions in the state’s protracted ethnic strife.

Ethnic violence in Manipur, ongoing since May 2023, has resulted in over 250 deaths and displaced more than 60,000 people, dividing the state along Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar lines.
The recent killings of six women and children in Jiribam, allegedly by Hmar gunmen, have intensified public outrage, with claims of atrocities and counterclaims of self-defense by tribal groups.
Security forces killed 10 suspected Kuki-Zo-Hmar militants in a shootout, but their families and tribal leaders insist they were civilians defending their villages from attacks.
The conflict has spilled into Assam, where displaced Meiteis and Kukis have found temporary refuge, with some communities maintaining fragile coexistence despite rising mistrust and the spread of rumors.
The state government has called for the suspected militants to be designated as terrorists, while tribal leaders demand political dialogue and postmortem transparency for the deceased.