ASIA/INDIA - New violence in Manipur: a “comprehensive dialogue plan” is needed to address it

Imphal (Agenzia Fides) – New episodes of violence have broken four months of relative calm in the Indian state of Manipur, rekindling tensions in this northeastern region. Clashes broke out on March 8, leaving one Kuki protester dead and 16 seriously injured, including several security forces, on the first day of “free movement” in Manipur. Kuki protesters blocked the reopening of the highway between Senapati and the capital, Imphal, a crucial route connecting Manipur with the rest of India via Nagaland. This road is vital for the transport of goods and personnel to the Imphal Valley, home to the Meitei community, the other ethnic group in conflict. Since the beginning of the inter-ethnic violence 22 months ago, all roads linking Manipur with other Indian states have remained closed. The federal government, on the orders of Home Minister Amit Shah, had ordered the reopening of the highway to restore a semblance of normality and facilitate traffic and trade. However, the Kuki community reiterated that it will not allow its reopening until its demand for an autonomous territory is met. The protesters' resistance prompted the intervention of security forces, resulting in clashes and casualties.
The incident confirms that tensions between the two communities cannot be resolved in the short term, not even after the resignation of Prime Minister N. Biren Singh and the establishment of an administration directly under the federal government in Delhi (see Fides, 14/2/2025). "A well-conceived and comprehensive plan of action is needed, beginning with the return of weapons and rebuilding dialogue," Archbishop Linus Neli of Imphal told Fides.
Since the violence erupted two years ago, around 67,000 people have been displaced. Many of them survive in refugee camps or rented accommodation, while others have found refuge in houses built by the Archdiocese of Imphal. The local Catholic Church is working tirelessly to provide material and spiritual support to those affected, who have lost their homes, land, and livelihoods. In response to the crisis, the archdiocese, with the support of donors, has begun the construction of 600 houses for displaced families, 200 of which are already completed and inhabited. They are home to people "still traumatized by the violence and living in a state of poverty," the Archbishop reports, stating that, "in this way, the Catholic Church seeks to keep alive the hope that is at the heart of the Jubilee year." (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 12/3/2025)

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