Manipur civil body has issued a stern warning to “immigrant settlers,” primarily Kuki communities, alleging an agenda of illegal land occupation following the disruption of a Meitei religious pilgrimage to Thangjing hill. Online Meitei users have voiced their anger and frustration.
BY PC Bureau
Tensions in Manipur have escalated sharply following the alleged obstruction of a traditional Meitei pilgrimage to the Thangjing hill, a site considered sacred by the community. The incident has sparked outrage among Meitei civil society groups and online users, with accusations leveled against Kuki communities of attempting to illegally occupy indigenous lands.
The Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent civil society organization, issued a strongly worded statement through its Convenor Khuraijam Athouba, addressing “immigrant settlers” in the state. COCOMI accused certain immigrant communities, allegedly emboldened by the support of the Indian government and armed forces, of believing they can occupy hill areas without the consent of indigenous populations.
Athouba warned against the “irresponsible” actions of community leaders who are allegedly making false promises to refugees and illegal immigrants, assuring them of permanent settlements on ancestral lands of the Meitei and Naga people.
A Critical Note to Immigrant Settlers Attempting Illegal Occupation in Manipur
The ongoing crisis in Manipur has revealed a disturbing trend, certain immigrant communities, emboldened by the visible protection and indirect patronage of Indian govt and their armed forces, have… pic.twitter.com/U9obmCSBg9
— Khuraijam Athouba (@Paari_Athouba) April 13, 2025
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“Let it be made unequivocally clear: these dreams of carving out a separate homeland, whether under the name of a Kuki state or any other political fiction, within the historic and settled territories of Manipur are fundamentally illegitimate and historically untenable,” the COCOMI statement asserted. The organization emphasized the long history of indigenous habitation and warned that the current “illusion of power and impunity” enjoyed by these groups is reliant on external military support, which is “inherently fragile.”
COCOMI issued a “final warning” to those being used in what it termed a “larger game of demographic engineering and territorial aggression,” urging them to withdraw from this “illegal path” and seek peaceful coexistence.
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The sentiment expressed by COCOMI was echoed by numerous Meitei users on X (formerly Twitter).
Chongtham R (@RanjitSing67280) questioned the effectiveness of state laws, stating, “Govt has imposed 3 laws in #Manipur- PR, AFSPA, Free Movement. All equally powerful but only kukis’ law worked. #Kukis are obstructing #Meiteis from their century-old custom of visiting their holy site annually at #Thangjinghill.” He directed his concerns to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Ajay Bhalla, the Union Home Secretary.
Occupying a land at gunpoint does not give the right of ownership. Temporary, you may win, but separating it from Meitei, let’s see how long you people can hold it to it.pic.twitter.com/wZqUSw4ahD
— Henjunaha (@HenzOnaha) April 13, 2025
Another user, TheBlueHills (@TheBlueHills49), expressed anger over past displacement and alleged current dominance by Kuki immigrants. “They (Kukis) bombed and chased us (Meiteis) out from our own homes. Now, these #Kuki Immigrants are behaving as owners and putting a ban on returning to our own homes,” the user wrote, questioning the Indian government’s alleged inaction against “unconstitutional and criminal activities.” The tweet also referenced anti-Meitei sentiments purportedly expressed by Kuki groups online.
Henjunaha (@HenzOnaha) added a stark warning, stating, “Occupying a land at gunpoint does not give the right of ownership. Temporary, you may win, but separating it from Meitei, let’s see how long you people can hold it to it.”
Loya Thangjing (@LThang28110) raised questions about the indigeneity of the Kuki-Zo community, highlighting reports of some members holding Israeli flags and claiming Jewish ancestry. “How could #Kuki_Zo holding an #Israeli flag claiming themselves as a lost tribe of Jews be an Indigenous people of Manipur? How could there be an imaginary land called by #Kuki as #Kukiland in India whom they called themselves as a refugee in India?” the user questioned.
These online reactions, coupled with the strong statement from COCOMI, underscore the deep-seated resentment and mistrust prevailing between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur,..
