Jose Kalathil
In Northeast India — and Manipur is no exception — identity politics is often driven by a mindset that frames the issue as the ‘wrong ideology of others and the right logic of ours’. The ongoing unrest in Manipur, which began in 2023, is commonly referred to as clashes between the Meiteis and the Kukis, and must be understood within this broader context. In such conflicts, questions of right or wrong often become secondary to the entrenched perceptions of identity and justice. This makes it particularly challenging for policymakers in Delhi to diagnose the root causes and respond with effective solutions accurately.
President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur in February 2025, about three months before the completion of two years of turmoil. Ahead of the central rule, Chief Minister N Biren Singh had been given unprecedented protection by the Narendra Modi government despite his inability to arrest the state’s slide into chaos.
But the inevitable finally happened. Amid rumours that the Congress was preparing a no-confidence motion against him, Biren Singh resigned on February 9, and President’s Rule was imposed four days later, on February 13.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, a former Union Home Secretary, enjoys the confidence of powerful Home Minister Amit Shah. However, personal credentials alone aren’t enough to restore normalcy in the state.
Fresh violence erupted in Manipur after the CBI arrested a leader of the Meitei outfit, Arambai Tenggol, on June 8 at the Imphal airport. The protesters torched tyres and old furniture in the middle of roads, gheraoed the airport entrance, and clashed with security forces.
The accused was allegedly involved in various criminal activities related to Manipur violence in 2023. The CBI is investigating violence-related cases in Manipur under directives issued by the Supreme Court.
Arambai Tenggol is an armed organisation which emerged after May 2023 and is widely viewed as a revivalist group aiming to restore the traditional Sanamahi religion among the Meiteis.
The arrest of the Arambai Tenggol leader is said to be proof that the government is actually in action to improve the situation in the state and restore the rule of law. Also on June 8, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested three Kuki insurgents in a case related to a deadly attack on security forces that had killed two police commandos and injured several others in Manipur last year.
Analysts say Biren Singh’s removal left a huge political vacuum. As chief minister, he had tried to emerge as a champion of the Meitei cause. Many interpreted that as the Hindu cause too, because Meiteis are a Hindu majority group while Kukis are Christians.
While Manipur spiralled into chaos in the last two years, the current political vacuum has further complicated the situation, fueling a huge trust deficit.
According to ground reports, Meiteis are unable to move around in hill areas such as Churachandpur and Chandel, and Kukis cannot visit the state capital, Imphal, even to catch flights to Delhi or other places. In Imphal, the dominant Meiteis felt their developmental journey between 2017 and 2023 had been derailed.
In January 2025, ‘Kangaroo courts’ started functioning, raising questions about whether the state government’s writ was running at all. For instance, a victim of alleged rape did not complain to the police. In a statement, the Koireng faction of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) said the “punishment” was handed out to Khaidem Nongdam Khanganba, 30, of Imphal West district, following its “investigation”.
Earlier in 2024, the Arambai Tenggol “summoned” all the Meitei legislators from Manipur – 37 MLAs and two Members of Parliament, across party lines. At the meeting, the Arambai Tenggol handed a charter of six demands that it expected the lawmakers to endorse. Biren Singh did not attend the meeting.
Manipur has a history of ethnic clashes. In the 1990s, Nagas fought with the Kukis. In 2000, Meiteis and Nagas had clashed in the Imphal region. And, in 2023, clashes between Kukis and Meiteis began over giving Scheduled Tribes status to Meiteis.
There is now a clear realisation today that the ongoing estrangement and hostility between Meiteis and Kukis is untenable and counterproductive. Yet, no common ground has been found. The Kukis continue to press for a separate administration and have threatened to boycott any election under the banner of a ‘united Manipur’.
