Kuki houses set ablaze in Manipur’s Naga-dominated district

Quick Summary:

• Incident Details: Unknown miscreants set fire to several houses in two Kuki villages (gampal and Haiyang) of Kamjong district, Manipur, near the Myanmar border on April 23, 2025.
• Timing: Villagers were away tilling fields at the time of the attack.
• Prohibitory Orders: Authorities imposed restrictions under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to prevent breaches of peace and protect lives.
• Community Response: Kuki-Zo organisations condemned the attacks, demanded rebuilding and rehabilitation for affected families, fair compensation, adequate security deployment by neutral forces, and supply of essentials for displaced individuals.
• Context: manipur is under President’s Rule as it recovers from ethnic violence between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities that erupted in May 2023.Historical ethnic conflicts include the Kuki-Naga clashes in the early 1990s.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

This latest incident highlights persistent ethnic tensions in Manipur despite ongoing efforts at recovery under President’s Rule. The burning down of houses symbolizes a deep-seated disconnect between communities still grappling with historical grievances from past conflicts like those between Kukis and Nagas. Imposing prohibitory orders may prevent immediate escalation but does little to address underlying causes or restore communal trust.

The call by kuki organizations for neutral security force deployment signals mistrust toward local governance structures and a desire for impartial intervention. The focus on compensation, rehabilitation, and essential supplies emphasizes their sense of vulnerability following recent turmoil that displaced thousands.

For India as a whole, maintaining peace along sensitive border states like Manipur is crucial not only for internal stability but also given its proximity to Myanmar-a strategic frontier region. resolving such issues will require addressing root causes with long-term dialogue initiatives rather than reactive measures alone.Read More