PM Modi's first visit to Manipur since conflict: A look at 5 unresolved issues in state

Over the past 27 months, Manipur has experienced waves of violence, mass displacement, the rise of armed groups, the collapse of law and order, the imposition of President’s Rule, and most recently, a lull in open conflict. (Reuters file photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Manipur on Saturday, where he is scheduled to meet internally displaced residents in Churachandpur and Imphal. This marks his first trip to the state since the ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities erupted in May 2023.

Over the past 27 months, Manipur has experienced waves of violence, mass displacement, the rise of armed groups, the collapse of law and order, the imposition of President’s Rule, and most recently, a lull in open conflict.

PM Modi on Saturday will inaugurate the new Manipur Police headquarters worth Rs 101 crore and Rs 538 crore civil secretariat, among 17 projects with a total value of Rs 1,200 crore to be unveiled during his visit to the strife-torn state. Modi will also lay the foundation stones for 14 projects worth Rs 7,300 crore from Churachandpur, a government statement said.

This will be Modi's first visit to Manipur since ethnic violence broke out in the state two years ago. The PM will first arrive in Churachandpur from Mizoram's Aizwal and later proceed to Imphal on Saturday.

BJP North East in-charge Sambit Patra said on Friday that PM Modi will not only launch all these projects but also interact with internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The prime minister’s visit comes amid repeated criticism by opposition parties for not coming to the state following the ethnic strife between the Kuki and Meitei communities, which has left over 260 people dead and thousands homeless since May 2023.

There are five major issues that continue to dominate the situation on the ground.

Rehabilitation of displaced families

At present, more than 280 relief camps across Manipur shelter about 57,000 people, many of whom have been living there for over two years. Displacement has taken two main forms:

Families uprooted from areas where they were a minority -- with Kuki-Zo residents forced to leave Imphal and other valley towns, and Meiteis displaced from Moreh, Kangpokpi, and Churachandpur.

Families who fled “fringe areas” -- localities on the faultline between the valley and the hills -- due to attacks or the fear of them.

In July, then Chief Secretary PK Singh unveiled a three-phase plan to close the relief camps by year-end. It proposed resettling those from fringe areas first, in July, October, and December, followed by the return of those from minority settlements to prefabricated housing once normalcy was restored. Officials noted that around 5,000 people had returned even before this plan was rolled out, but progress since then has been limited, The Indian Express reported.

Restrictions on movement

During the conflict, boundaries between the valley and the hills hardened into militarised “buffer zones,” patrolled by security forces. These divisions mean Meiteis cannot leave the central valley to access highways, while Kuki-Zos remain cut off from Imphal and facilities concentrated there, including the airport.

Following the imposition of President’s Rule in February, the Centre attempted to restore free movement along highways. But on March 8, this move sparked clashes in Kuki-Zo-majority Kangpokpi district, leaving one dead and several injured when locals resisted the escort of a state transport bus from Imphal.

Since then, Kuki-Zo groups have allowed the passage of essential supplies to the valley but have refused to permit Meiteis to cross buffer zones. No reciprocal arrangement has been made by Meitei groups for Kuki-Zo access to the valley, The Indian Express noted.

Dialogue still missing

Although the intensity of clashes has reduced since November 2024, the state remains on edge. Security officials warn that with both sides still armed and no dialogue underway between the communities, the risk of renewed violence persists.

Currently, the Ministry of Home Affairs is holding separate discussions with groups from each community. Last week, the government renewed the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups under the Kuki National Organization and the United People’s Front.

As per The Indian Express, the pact included a clause obliging the groups to respect the “territorial integrity of Manipur.” This appeared to contradict the demand of Kuki-Zo leaders for a “separate administration.” Meitei organisations opposed the extension, saying it legitimised the groups, while Kuki-Zo leaders reiterated their demand, with the KNO and UPF declaring they would continue to press for Union Territory status with a legislature.

The Kuki-Zo side has also accused the previous state government under N. Biren Singh of favouring Meitei armed groups like Arambai Tenggol, which they argue made a separate arrangement necessary.

Political vacuum

After steering the state through 21 months of unrest, Chief Minister N Biren Singh stepped down in February under pressure from both Kuki-Zo stakeholders and many Meitei BJP legislators. His resignation was followed quickly by the imposition of President’s Rule, which continues to this day.

While Kuki-Zo groups had long demanded Biren’s removal, the decision was also welcomed in the valley. However, around two months after his resignation, valley-based and Naga NDA MLAs began calling for the restoration of an elected government, citing public pressure. Despite these appeals, the Centre has shown no willingness to lift President’s Rule, instead preferring to maintain the current arrangement, The Indian Express reported.

Border concerns

The porous Manipur-Myanmar border remains a sensitive issue. Meitei stakeholders have repeatedly alleged that unchecked migration of Chin people -- who share ethnic ties with the Kuki-Zo -- has worsened tensions.

In response, the Centre scrapped the Free Movement Regime, which had allowed tribes along the border to travel up to 16 km into either country without a visa, and announced plans to fence the border.

According to The Indian Express, this move has triggered strong opposition from both the Kuki-Zo and the Nagas, who share close ethnic and economic ties with communities on the Myanmar side. Ahead of Modi’s visit, the United Naga Council, the apex body of Manipur’s Naga groups, even declared a “trade embargo,” cutting off major supply routes into the state.

With inputs from PTI