As ethnic tensions persist in Manipur, a video allegedly showing Kuki student leader Paojakhup Guite issuing threats against Meiteis has sparked legal action and renewed focus on the fragile communal balance during the upcoming Shirui Lily Festival.
BY PC Bureau
Manipur Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Paojakhup Guite, president of the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) Delhi, following allegations that he issued threats against the Meitei community. The action was prompted by a video circulating on social media, in which Guite allegedly warned Meiteis against crossing buffer zones to attend the upcoming 5th state-level Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district.
The FIR, lodged on May 17, 2025, comes amid heightened ethnic tensions in Manipur, where over 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced due to violence between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023. The Shirui Lily Festival, a significant cultural event in the Tangkhul Naga-dominated Ukhrul district, has become a flashpoint, with buffer zones separating conflicting communities adding to the complexity.
As regards to one Paojakhup Guite, Prez KSO Delhi threats (in a video ) to the Meitei, to not allow to cross the buffer zone to attend the upcoming Shirui Festival in Ulhrul, which is circulated in social media since yesterday, CC Pur police has registered an FIR and all efforts… pic.twitter.com/m8UuFJppnF
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) May 17, 2025
According to the police , Guite’s alleged threats were perceived as an attempt to disrupt communal harmony and prevent Meiteis from participating in the festival. The KSO Delhi has not issued an official statement responding to the FIR, but Kuki-Zo groups have previously expressed concerns over movement restrictions and security in the region.
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Meanwhile, Kuki chiefs along the Imphal-Ukhrul road have assured the Tangkhul Naga Long, an apex organization of the Tangkhul Naga tribe, of maintaining peace during the festival. They have reaffirmed their decision not to check or frisk passersby within the jurisdiction of the Tangkhul Naga Long, signaling an intent to avoid escalation.
The filing of the FIR has drawn attention to the fragile situation in Manipur, where ethnic divisions continue to challenge peace efforts. The state has been under President’s rule since February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, with the state assembly in suspended animation until 2027. The Centre has been engaging with both Kuki-Zo and Meitei groups to restore normalcy, but no concrete resolutions have been reached.
Local authorities have urged all communities to exercise restraint and cooperate to ensure the Shirui Lily Festival proceeds peacefully. The police are investigating the case and have appealed to the public to refrain from sharing unverified content that could further inflame tensions.
