Imagine fleeing your home as flames engulf your village, leaving behind everything you’ve known. For Lhingnei, a Kuki mother in Churachandpur, this became reality in May 2023, when Manipur violence erupted, tearing apart communities. Two years later, in May 2025, the violence in Manipur persists, dividing the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities and leaving scars across the state. As theUnitedIndian, we’re committed to uncovering the Manipur protest reason, exploring the roots of this crisis, and shedding light on why it remains unresolved. This is more than a regional story—it’s a call for truth & justice.

Understanding Manipur The Roots of Manipur’s Conflict

Manipur, a vibrant northeastern state, with a population of about 3.5 million people, is home to diverse groups. This includes the Meiteis (53% of 3.2 million, mostly Hindu, in the Imphal Valley) and Kuki-Zo (16%, largely Christian, in the hills), alongside Nagas. Tensions over land, resources, and power have long simmered. The valley, just 10% of Manipur’s area, is prosperous, while the hills hold untapped resources like minerals. This imbalance fuels mistrust, with Meiteis dominating 40 of 60 assembly seats, marginalizing Kuki-Zo and Naga voices.

The Manipur protest reason traces back to April 2023, when the Manipur High Court recommended Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for Meiteis, granting access to job and education quotas. This alarmed Kuki-Zo and Naga tribes, who feared losing their benefits. On May 3, 2023, protests turned violent, sparking Manipur violence that spread rapidly. But the Manipur protest reason runs deeper: policies under Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, a Meitei from the BJP, like evicting tribes from forest lands and ending a peace agreement with Kuki militants in March 2023, were seen as favoring Meiteis. Compounding this, thousands of weapons looted from police armories and smuggled from Myanmar’s 400-km border empowered militias like Arambai Tenggol (Meitei) and Kuki insurgent groups, intensifying violence in Manipur.

Deep-Rooted Causes Behind the Violence in Manipur

The conflict is not just about legal status but reflects deeper issues:

• Land and Identity: The hills versus valley divide symbolizes competing claims over land and cultural survival.
• Political Power: The Meiteis’ dominance in state politics has bred resentment among hill tribes.
• Demographic Fears: The influx of Chin refugees from Myanmar into tribal areas has heightened anxieties.
• Militant Activity: Armed groups have looted police armories, escalating violence and complicating law enforcement.

These factors combined to create a volatile environment where the initial protests quickly spiraled into widespread ethnic violence.

A Devastating Human Toll

The Manipur violence has been brutal: by November 2024, 258 people died, over 1,000 were injured, and 60,000 remain displaced in relief camps in Imphal, Churachandpur, and Jiribam. Over 4,786 homes and 386 religious structures—temples and churches—were destroyed. For Lhingnei, a Kuki mother, the violence in Manipur meant losing her home to Meitei mobs. Now in a relief camp, she worries about her children’s future, with no school or stability. Meitei families, like Rajen, a farmer unable to return to Kuki-dominated hills, also suffer, living in fear.

The Manipur protest reason has fueled horrific acts. In May 2023, a video of Kuki women paraded naked by a Meitei mob sparked national outrage, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak out. In November 2024, a Kuki woman’s burning in Jiribam reignited protests, leading to 23 arrests. Manipur is now split into Meitei valleys and Kuki-Zo hills, with security forces patrolling buffer zones. Curfews and internet shutdowns, like those in September 2024, disrupt lives, while relief camps struggle to provide food and medicine. The violence in Manipur risks scarring a generation, with trust between communities broken.

Two Years of Unrest: Key Developments

The Manipur violence hasn’t abated. In September 2024, suspected Kuki militants used drones to attack Meitei villages in West Imphal, killing 11. The November 2024 Jiribam killing fueled protests defying curfews, showing how volatile the situation remains. Politically, Chief Minister Biren Singh faced backlash after alleged audio tapes (93% forensic confirmation) suggested he instigated violence in Manipur. Facing a no-confidence motion, Singh resigned on February 9, 2025, leading to President’s Rule, placing Manipur under central control.

The government has responded with force and funds. Army, Assam Rifles, and Rapid Action Force units were deployed, with Rs 247 crore allocated for relief camps in 2024. A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, set up in May 2025, is trying cases tied to the Manipur violence, with 350 arrests by May 18 and another NIA arrest on May 19. Yet, unrest persists. Kuki-Zo leaders, including 10 MLAs, demand a separate state administration, citing Meitei bias. Some propose stronger Autonomous District Councils or a Union Territory. Meiteis push for ST status and accuse Kukis of separatism and drug trafficking—claims Kukis deny.

Where Manipur Stands in May 2025?

As of May 31, 2025, Manipur remains under President’s Rule, with no election timeline. The BJP, after losing both Manipur Lok Sabha seats to Congress in 2024, fears further losses. The central government’s plan includes dialogue, fencing 1,500 km of the India-Myanmar border (30 km done), and CRPF deployments. But the Manipur protest reason—land, power, and ethnic divides—continues to drive sporadic violence, with no reconciliation in sight.

On X, polarized narratives thrive: some claim Kukis seek a separate “Kukiland” with foreign support, while others allege state-backed Meitei militias are ethnically cleansing Kukis. These claims lack evidence but deepen mistrust. The Indian Express calls this a “normalization of abandonment,” with Manipur fading from national focus. Without a national commission or restitution, displaced families like Lhingnei’s face an uncertain future.

The Role of India’s Defense Mechanisms

The Manipur violence tests India’s security framework. The rapid deployment of Army and paramilitary forces shows strength, with airlifts and response teams stabilizing areas. The NIA court and arrests reflect a commitment to justice, targeting militias and extortionists. Border fencing aims to stop arms smuggling from Myanmar, critical after its 2021 coup. But challenges persist: state police, often ethnically divided, face bias allegations, with reports of complicity in attacks on Kukis. Looted weapons limit central forces’ effectiveness, highlighting the need for better state-central coordination.

For our readers, this is actionable. India’s defense system is robust, but it must adapt to internal conflicts. Training forces in community engagement, curbing arms flows, and prioritizing aid for camps like Lhingnei’s can help. Imagine her children back in school—that’s the change we need.

Why This Matters to All of Us?

The Manipur protest reason—rooted in ethnic and political divides—challenges India’s unity. The Supreme Court’s 2023 critique of an “absolute breakdown of law and order” still holds. The UN High Commissioner urges addressing root causes, yet Manipur is often ignored nationally, a moral failure, as the Indian Express notes. If unresolved, this crisis risks radicalizing communities, empowering militias, and destabilizing the Northeast, especially with Myanmar’s unrest nearby.

Conclusion: A Call for Compassion and Action

The Manipur protest reason may have been the ST status demand, but the ongoing violence in Manipur is a tragic reminder of how ethnic identity, politics, and history intertwine to fuel conflict. The people of Manipur deserve peace, justice, and a future where diversity is celebrated, not feared.

As your trusted news source, we urge you to look beyond the headlines and understand the human stories behind the crisis. Let’s keep the conversation alive, demand accountability, and support efforts to heal Manipur’s wounds—because the strength of our democracy lies in protecting every citizen’s dignity and rights.