BY PC Bureau
April 19, 2025 – Hundreds of Kuki-Zo community members, led predominantly by women, gathered across the Kuki Hills in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Saturday to stage a mass protest against the Meitei community’s planned pilgrimage to Thangjing Hills.
The demonstration, marked by powerful slogans such as “From arsonists to pilgrims? Your politics doesn’t belong in our hills” and “Our land, our blood, our boundaries,” was another condemnation of what protesters described as the use of religious pilgrimage as a pretext for territorial encroachment.
The protest underscored the community’s demand for the Government of India (GOI) to enforce buffer zones and expedite a political settlement that respects tribal autonomy.
The epicenter of the protest was New Zalenphai village in Churachandpur district, where hundreds of Kuki-Zo women lined the roads, holding placards and raising slogans. Similar demonstrations were reported in nearby villages, including Pholjang, Gothol, and Khousabung, all located in the foothills of the Thangjing hill range, a sacred site for the Meitei community but situated within Kuki-Zo-dominated territory.
The protests were organized under the leadership of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) and supported by civil society groups such as the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) and the Kuki Women’s Union. Temporary shelters were erected at key protest sites to accommodate participants, reflecting the community’s determination to sustain their resistance.
The Thangjing Hills, part of the north-south-running mountain range forming the western border of the Imphal Valley, have become a flashpoint in the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. The Kuki-Zo community views the Meitei’s annual pilgrimage, particularly the Ching Kaba ritual,, as a violation of the buffer zones established to maintain peace amid Manipur’s ethnic strife.
The protesters accused the Meitei community of using religious pilgrimage as a “guise” to assert political dominance and undermine Kuki-Zo sovereignty. The demonstration was a direct response to a joint statement issued by six Kuki-Zo organizations on April 9, 2025, warning that Meitei pilgrims would not be allowed to cross the buffer zone into Kuki-Zo territory without a comprehensive political solution.
Led by resilient Kuki women, today’s mass protest was a clear assertion of political sovereignty. The slogan,”Our land, our blood, our boundaries” reflect deep-rooted resistance to Meitei encroachment. The GOI must initiate a political settlement that respects tribal autonomy. pic.twitter.com/6BU3RMan0Q
— Alice Ngaipilhing (@haokip_alice) April 19, 2025
The Kuki-Zo community’s grievances are rooted in the broader context of Manipur’s ethnic conflict, which erupted on May 3, 2023, between the valley-based Meitei majority and the hill-based Kuki-Zo tribal community. The conflict, which has claimed over 258 lives and displaced 60,000 people as of November 2024, was initially sparked by a Manipur High Court order recommending Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community, a move the Kuki-Zo fear would enable Meiteis to acquire land in the protected hill areas.
The Kuki-Zo protesters emphasized several key demands:
- Enforcement of Buffer Zones: The buffer zones, established under security surveillance to separate Meitei-majority valley areas from Kuki-Zo-dominated hill districts, are seen as critical to preventing further violence. Protesters condemned the Meitei pilgrimage as an attempt to breach these boundaries, risking escalation of tensions.
- Political Settlement for Tribal Autonomy: The Kuki-Zo community reiterated their long-standing demand for a separate administration, such as a Union Territory with a legislature under Article 239A of the Constitution. They argue that coexistence with the Meitei community is no longer viable due to historical marginalization and ongoing violence.
- Rejection of Religious Pretext: The slogans “From arsonists to pilgrims?” and “Your politics doesn’t belong in our hills” reflect the Kuki-Zo belief that the Meitei pilgrimage is a politically motivated act rather than a genuine religious exercise. Protesters accused Meitei groups of exploiting cultural traditions to provoke conflict and assert control over Kuki-Zo land.
- Protection of Indigenous Rights: The protest was framed as a defense of Kuki-Zo identity, land, and heritage. The slogan “Our land, our blood, our boundaries” encapsulated the community’s resolve to safeguard their ancestral territories from perceived encroachments.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025, following months of ethnic violence and governance challenges. The state is divided geographically and ethnically, with the Meitei community (53% of the population) dominating the Imphal Valley, while the Kuki-Zo (16%) and Naga (24%) communities inhabit the hills, which constitute 90% of Manipur’s landmass.
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The Kuki-Zo community has accused the Meitei-dominated state government of pursuing policies that threaten their land security, including eviction drives in hill districts and attempts to grant ST status to Meiteis. These policies, coupled with allegations of state complicity in violence against Kuki-Zo people, have fueled demands for a separate administration.
The Meitei community, however, views the Thangjing Hills pilgrimage as an integral part of their cultural and religious heritage, dating back centuries. The Meitei Heritage Society has condemned the Kuki-Zo protests as “unconstitutional” and compared the obstruction of pilgrims to denying Hindus access to Kailash Parbat or Muslims to Mecca.
Government and Security Response
The protests occurred under heavy security surveillance, with central forces deployed to maintain order in the buffer zones. Despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s directive on March 2, 2025, to ensure “free movement” across Manipur, the Kuki-Zo community has resisted such measures, arguing that forced integration without a political solution will exacerbate tensions.
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Former Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh appealed to the Kuki-Zo community to reconsider their opposition to the pilgrimage, while the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) urged the central and state governments to protect pilgrims. The Manipur government has designated Thangjing Hills as a protected site under the Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments Act, further complicating the dispute.
Voices from the Protest
Kuki-Zo women, who led the demonstration, were at the forefront of articulating the community’s resolve.
On X, sentiments echoed the protest’s intensity. One user,
@VoiceOfDaHills
, posted: “Kuki-Zo Community Stages Mass Protest Against Religious Pretext for Trespass… The buffer zone is a non-negotiable safeguard.” Another,
@SeiminDoungel_
, urged the GOI to “expedite a binding political settlement for long-lasting peace and mutual respect.”
David kuki@kipskuki : The message is clear : “Forced attempt to trespass the Kuki-Zo areas isn’t acceptable.” Pls heed to the cries of innocent tribal Kuki-Zo people
Broader Implications
The April 19 protest marks the second major demonstration in the Kuki Hills within a week, following an initial protest on April 13, 2025. It highlights the deepening divide between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities and the challenges of restoring peace in Manipur. The Kuki-Zo community’s demand for a separate administration, while opposed by Meitei groups and the state government, has gained traction among tribal leaders and civil society organizations.
