Manipur’s ongoing violence continues to fuel protests and rallies. Kuki organizations have announced a ‘coffin rally’ in Churachandpur on Tuesday to honor 10 individuals from the Kuki-Zo community who died during a reported gunfight with security forces in Jiribam district. Schools and colleges have been asked to send students from Class 10 onwards, dressed in black shirts, to participate in the rally.
The rally, organized by the Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), and Hmar Students' Association (HSA), will feature 10 symbolic coffins to represent the deceased. The bodies of the 10 individuals, currently kept in a local hospital's mortuary, arrived in Churachandpur on Saturday after undergoing autopsies in Assam’s Silchar.
While the families await postmortem reports, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) announced that funerals will be delayed until the findings are shared. This decision reflects the community's demand for clarity regarding the deaths.
Manipur Police reported that the deceased were suspected militants killed during an encounter on November 11. According to the police, these individuals, dressed in camouflage and equipped with advanced weapons, attacked a CRPF camp and the Borobekra Police Station in Jiribam district. They also allegedly abducted six civilians, including three women and three children, during the assault.
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Since May 2023, over 220 people have died, and thousands have been displaced due to ethnic violence between the Imphal Valley-based Meitei community and Kuki-Zo groups residing in the hills. This ongoing conflict has severely disrupted life in the region, leading to repeated clashes and protests.
The political landscape in Manipur has also seen significant shifts. The Naga Peoples' Front (NPF), an ally of the BJP with five MLAs, expressed support for the state government’s efforts to manage the crisis. However, the National People's Party (NPP), which holds seven seats in the 60-member assembly, withdrew its support from Chief Minister N Biren Singh's government, citing its inability to resolve the situation and restore peace.
The continued unrest underscores the urgent need for reconciliation and measures to address the underlying ethnic tensions plaguing the state.
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