In brief
Kuki men were killed in two separate incidents in Manipur’s Kangpokpi and Noney districts, a decline from a prolonged violence that has already claimed over 300 lives. The clashes, which involved gunfire and tear gas, came amid calls from Kuki tribal bodies accusing Naga groups of responsibility, while the broader conflict centers on the inclusion of the Meitei community as a scheduled tribe. The federal government had imposed direct rule in 2025, which was lifted in February 2026, but violence remains ongoing.
Morning of Friday, 5‑month‑old violence in Manipur’s northeastern state left five Kuki tribal men dead in two separate incidents in Kangpokpi and Noney districts, according to state officials and police statements released Monday. The deaths followed earlier clashes that had already taken the lives of 306 people and left 49 missing since May 2023, the state government reported.
In Kangpokpi district, the first incident began when the bodies of two Kuki men who had gone missing from Taphou Kuki village on October 28 were recovered. The community’s distress erupted into a protest that drew attention from local militia and residents. Government forces, citing crowd control protocols, deployed tear‑gas shelling and baton charges to disperse the agitated crowd. While several protesters were reported injured, the two recovered bodies deepened the sense of insecurity within the Kuki villages.
The second incident occurred in Kekru Naga village of Noney district on Saturday, where three Kuki men were killed in a confrontation described by police as an exchange of gunfire between “unidentified armed miscreants.” The police initiated an extensive search and combing operation to trace the individuals responsible for the killings, according to a local police statement released for the public. In a related statement, a top Kuki tribal council spokesman said the killings were orchestrated by Naga outfits.
Both incidents underscore the broader ethnic conflict that erupted in Manipur on 3 May 2023. The initial wave of violence followed a tribal protest that called for the inclusion of the non‑tribal Meitei community in the scheduled tribe list, a designation that grants socio‑economic advantages such as reservations in education and civil service jobs. Because the Meiteis are not classified as a scheduled tribe, the protest sparked intense disputes with Indigenous Kuki and Naga groups.
In the wake of the violence, the Indian federal government imposed direct rule on Manipur in February 2025, a measure that lasted almost a year. The direct rule was lifted in February 2026, as announced by the central government, but local police and residents report that hundreds of encounters and civilian casualties continue. The state’s official figures still stand at more than 300 deaths and 49 missing people, as reported by local government officials.
Reuter reports from the same day confirm the death toll of five Kuki men and highlight that the incidents occurred in the state’s Noney district, echoing the pattern of ethnic violence that has escalated in recent weeks. The Facebook page of Hiru News English also stated that three Kuki men were killed in the Noney district, adding that the killings were the result of a gunfire dispute between “unidentified armed miscreants.”
Within the Kuki community, the dual incidents spark fears of renewed escalation. Organisers at the Kangpokpi Kuki tribe council expressed concern that the state’s security forces’ tear‑gas tactics may be prompting further retaliation. In contrast, Naga community leaders have called for calm and emphasize that their own rallies have not yet involved the use of firearms.
Local activism now aims to bridge gaps between Kuki, Naga, and Meitei groups, urging dialogue to prevent further bloodshed. The government’s renewed communication with tribal councils, led by the Chief Minister of Manipur, will seek to address conflicts around scheduled tribe status and prevent a recurrence of armed riots.
For the year 2026, the Manipur situation remains a flashpoint, with international observers urging greater representation of Indigenous voices in the state’s decision‑making processes, especially regarding policies that shape land use and cultural preservation. Native communities called for transparent investigations and safeguards for minority rights, striving to prevent the cycle of violence that has marred Manipur since the first outbreak in May 2023.
