Manipur witnessed renewed tensions on Thursday when clashes between protesters and security forces in Churachandpur district left around a dozen people injured. The violence stemmed from growing anger within the Kuki-Zo community over BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen’s decision to accept the post of deputy chief minister in the newly reinstated NDA government led by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
Kipgen, a Kuki-Zo legislator from Kangpokpi, took her oath virtually on Wednesday from Manipur Bhawan in Delhi via videoconference, alongside Singh and another deputy, Naga MLA Losii Dikho of the Naga People’s Front. Her appointment has been viewed by several Kuki-Zo groups as a betrayal of the community’s long-standing demands.
The influential Kuki Zo Council announced a social boycott of any Kuki-Zo legislator who joins the government under Singh. They described Kipgen’s move as defiance of a collective mandate that bars participation in the state administration until the central government addresses their call for administrative separation from the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley.
Adding to the friction, the Joint Forum of Seven—a group linked to Kuki freedom fighters—called for a total shutdown on Friday in Kuki-Zo majority hill areas. Protesters burned tyres and blocked roads in Kangpokpi district, while plans emerged for a rally in Churachandpur. The armed Kuki Liberation Army issued a stern warning, labeling any Kuki-Zo representative entering the government as a betrayer of community interests.
The situation revealed internal divisions within tribal groups. The Thadou Inpi Manipur welcomed Kipgen’s appointment as a historic milestone—the first for a Thadou tribal in the deputy CM role—and urged her to firmly reject the “Kuki” identity, disassociate from separatist agendas, and protect Manipur’s territorial integrity. The group noted that Kipgen holds a Thadou tribe certificate and represents the general Kangpokpi constituency.
These developments come against the backdrop of persistent ethnic strife between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023, which had led to President’s Rule earlier. Kipgen’s virtual swearing-in avoided travel to Imphal, underscoring ongoing sensitivities in the valley. Authorities deployed additional forces to contain the unrest, but the episode highlights the fragile ethnic balance in the state’s new administrative setup.