Manipur’s hill areas are once again gripped by fear and uncertainty, this time not over the prolonged Meitei-Kuki conflict that has dominated headlines since May 2023, but over a fresh wave of violence between Kuki and Naga groups. In just four days, armed militants affiliated with Naga factions have killed six members of the Kuki community, including four women, according to local Kuki organizations.
The killings have sent shockwaves through the mountainous regions of the state, where multiple ethnic groups have long coexisted under fragile arrangements. Kuki community leaders and activist groups have publicly accused Naga underground outfits of carrying out the attacks, describing them as targeted assaults meant to intimidate and displace Kuki populations from certain areas.
The fallout has been severe. Communication links with all seven of Manipur’s hill districts — Chandel, Tamenglong, Kangpokpi, Senapati, Ukhrul, Pherzawl, and Churachandpur — have been completely severed. Residents report that mobile networks and internet services have been disrupted, making it nearly impossible to reach outside help or confirm the safety of loved ones.
For five days straight, inhabitants of the upper hill villages have not ventured out even during daylight hours. The climate of fear has forced entire communities into self-imposed lockdowns. Schools and local markets have remained closed for seven days, stripping residents — particularly vulnerable groups like the elderly and pregnant women — of access to basic necessities and medical care. Even medical emergencies cannot be addressed, as ambulances and transport remain unavailable on disrupted routes.
Authorities have yet to issue a comprehensive statement addressing the latest round of violence. Human rights organizations monitoring the situation have urged the state government to restore communication and deploy adequate security forces to protect civilians caught in the crossfire between the two communities.
The Manipur conflict, which began as a dispute over Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community and soon escalated into wider ethnic violence, has already displaced more than 57,000 people since June 2023, according to official figures. The fresh Kuki-Naga violence adds another layer of complexity to an already protracted crisis that has tested the limits of law enforcement and governance in the northeastern state.
