The Kuki Inpi Manipur has strongly opposed the state’s recent police transfer orders, warning that deploying personnel across conflict-sensitive areas could reignite ethnic violence and undermine fragile peace efforts.
BY PC Bureau
July 22, 2026:The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body representing the Kuki tribes, has strongly opposed the Manipur government’s recent transfer and posting of police personnel, warning that the move could inflame ethnic tensions and trigger fresh violence in the conflict-hit state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, KIM described the mass transfers ordered by the Director General of Police as a “dangerous miscalculation,” saying the decision had been taken at a time when trust between the warring communities remains virtually non-existent.
The organisation urged both the Centre and the Manipur government to immediately withdraw the transfer orders, arguing that routine administrative decisions cannot be implemented in areas still reeling from more than three years of ethnic violence.
The statement referred to the police headquarters notification issued on July 18, under which several police personnel were transferred and posted across districts, including sensitive areas affected by the prolonged conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
While acknowledging that transfers and postings are ordinarily a routine administrative exercise, KIM maintained that the prevailing security situation demanded exceptional caution.
“Under normal circumstances, such transfers may be a matter of routine. However, the present socio-political environment in Manipur is anything but normal,” the organisation said.
According to KIM, the ethnic conflict has left communities deeply divided, creating an atmosphere of fear, mistrust and extreme polarisation. It expressed particular concern over what it described as the cross-posting of police personnel belonging to communities directly involved in the conflict into sensitive areas dominated by rival ethnic groups.
The organisation warned that such deployments could be perceived as provocative and endanger both security personnel and civilians.
“The situation remains highly volatile. A single insensitive administrative decision, no matter how routine it may appear, has the potential to trigger fresh violence and destroy the fragile stability that currently exists,” the statement said.
KIM alleged that the transfers appeared aimed at creating an impression that normalcy had returned to Manipur despite the unresolved conflict on the ground.
“It gives the impression that the government is attempting to project an illusion of peace to the outside world while gambling with the lives of thousands of people and placing the law-and-order machinery under enormous risk,” it said.
The tribal body stressed that ethnic hostility remains intense and warned that deploying officers in areas where they may be viewed with suspicion could aggravate tensions instead of restoring confidence.
“Instead of fostering peace, such measures are likely to worsen the situation. Security personnel perceived as a threat or as instruments of provocation face serious risks, as do the civilian populations they are expected to protect,” the statement added.
READ: CJP protest: The Invisible Supply Chain That Keeps Jantar Mantar Going
READ: Opinion | Jantar Mantar: Where the India We Love Came Alive
KIM also argued that lasting peace in Manipur cannot be achieved through administrative reshuffles alone.
“Peace cannot be engineered through transfers and postings. It requires a sincere commitment to a durable, just and political solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict,” it said.
The organisation accused the governments of attempting to impose a “manufactured normalcy” without addressing what it called the legitimate political aspirations and security concerns of the Kuki-Zo community, many of whom continue to live in relief camps after being displaced by the violence.
Calling for impartial policing, KIM urged both the Central and State governments to ensure that security operations are conducted with complete neutrality and professionalism.
“Administrative decisions must be guided by the realities on the ground rather than the desire to project an image of normalcy,” it said.
The organisation appealed to the government to rescind the transfer orders and instead prioritise meaningful political dialogue aimed at resolving the conflict before implementing routine administrative measures in sensitive areas.
The statement comes amid continuing ethnic tensions in Manipur, where sporadic incidents of violence, deep community divisions and political disagreements have continued despite heavy deployment of Central security forces and repeated appeals for peace.
