The cyclist is reportedly planning to visit Churachandpur on March 17. ITLF said such a move would violate the informal buffer zone that has existed between the valley and hill communities since the outbreak of ethnic violence in 2023.
BY PC Bureau
March 16, 2026: Fresh tensions have surfaced in strife-hit Manipur after the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a key body representing Kuki-Zo tribal groups, warned a Meitei cyclist against entering Churachandpur district, citing the sensitive buffer zones currently separating Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas.
In a press release issued on Monday, the forum said it had received information that Meitei cyclist Malem Thongam was planning to travel to Churachandpur on March 17. According to the ITLF, any such attempt would constitute a breach of the buffer zone that has been informally maintained between Meitei-dominated valley areas and Kuki-Zo inhabited hill regions since the outbreak of ethnic violence in 2023.
The organisation urged the cyclist to respect the prevailing arrangements and refrain from entering Kuki-Zo areas, warning that any attempt to cross the buffer zone would be viewed as a deliberate provocation capable of inflaming public sentiment.
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“While he is free to pursue cycling activities within Meitei-inhabited areas, he must not attempt to enter Kuki-Zo land,” the statement said, adding that any untoward incident arising from such a move would be the consequence of his own actions.
The forum also called upon its women’s wing and volunteers to remain vigilant, indicating the high level of sensitivity surrounding the proposed visit.
The development comes against the backdrop of continuing tensions between the Meitei community of the Imphal valley and the Kuki-Zo tribal groups inhabiting the hills. Ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023 left hundreds dead and displaced tens of thousands, effectively dividing parts of the state along ethnic lines.
Since then, a series of buffer zones have been maintained by security forces to prevent direct confrontation between the two communities. Movement across these zones has remained highly restricted, and even minor incidents have the potential to trigger fresh unrest.
Churachandpur district has remained a focal point of Kuki-Zo political mobilisation since the conflict began. Tribal organisations have repeatedly warned against attempts by Meitei groups or individuals to enter areas they consider part of their homeland without prior understanding between the communities.
The latest warning by the ITLF underscores the fragile peace prevailing in Manipur, where mistrust between communities continues to run deep despite efforts by the government and security agencies to stabilise the situation.
