Manipur: Bitter Online War Erupts on Violence Anniversary

Marking two years since the eruption of ethnic strife in Manipur, this article analyzes the starkly contrasting sentiments expressed on social media. Kuki-Zo communities used the anniversary to amplify their demand for a separate Union Territory, citing state-sponsored persecution, while Meitei groups focused on security concerns, demanding the NRC and action against alleged Kuki militants.

BY PC Bureau

On May 3, 2025, the second anniversary of the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in 2023, X became a volatile platform reflecting the entrenched divide between the Kuki-Zo tribal communities and the Meitei population. The conflict, sparked by a Manipur High Court order recommending Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for Meiteis, has claimed over 260 lives, displaced more than 70,000 people, and destroyed thousands of homes and religious structures. As Manipur observed the anniversary under heavy security, X posts revealed raw emotions, with Kuki-Zo users marking May 3 as “Separation Day” and Meiteis demanding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and a crackdown on militancy. The reactions on X, coupled with the heightened security and deepening ethnic divide, painted a somber and tense atmosphere in the state.

Kuki-Zo Reactions: Grief, Defiance, and a Call for Separation

The Kuki-Zo posts on X were steeped in grief, defiance, and a resolute demand for a separate administration, reflecting their narrative of surviving alleged state-sponsored persecution. The posts below, all from May 3, 2025, illustrate their emotional and political stance:

@JUSTICE4theKUKI

(09:07 IST): “May 3 returns, marking two years since we remember and mourn our fallen heroes. Forced apart, not by choice, but by the Meiteis’ campaign to annihilate the Kukis. We seek justice on this somber day. #ManipurViolence #ManipurTapes #UnionTerritory4KukiZo

@thewire_in @ANI

”Reaction: This post conveys profound sorrow for lives lost, framing the violence as a deliberate “campaign to annihilate” the Kuki-Zo. The use of “fallen heroes” elevates victims to martyrs, while tagging media and demanding a Union Territory signals a defiant push for autonomy and international attention.
@NENGNEIMOIHAOK1

(07:11 IST): “Manipur’s violence is targeting indigenous KukiZo people. Manipur’s indigenous KukiZo tribals are on the verge of extinction. The solution lies in granting #UnionTerritory4KukiZo.”
Reaction: The language of “extinction” reflects existential fear and urgency, portraying Kuki-Zo as indigenous victims under siege. The repeated call for a Union Territory underscores a rejection of coexistence under the current state framework.
@NENGNEIMOIHAOK1

(07:16 IST): “Manipur’s government is complicit in ethnic violence. Stand with the victims. Manipur’s peace can only be achieved through justice. Support a political solution now. #UnionTerritory4KukiZo”
Reaction: Accusing the state government of complicity, this post channels anger and demands justice, positioning a separate administration as the only path to peace. The call to “stand with the victims” seeks solidarity beyond Manipur.

Central Armed Police Forces are conducting Flag March in and around Imphal City ahead of the 2nd Anniversary of the ethnic strife in Manipur, which began on May 3, 2023. Security measures have been further strengthened around Khuman Lampak in Imphal also. pic.twitter.com/9JDz9drkd8

— Noren Ningombam (@Norenimp) May 2, 2025

@NENGNEIMOIHAOK1

(07:17 IST): “Manipur’s minorities are under siege. Protect them with a separate administration. Manipur is being torn apart by communal violence. A political solution is urgent. #UnionTerritory4KukiZo”
Reaction: The term “under siege” evokes a community cornered, with “communal violence” highlighting ethnic targeting. The urgency for a political solution reflects frustration with unresolved grievances.
@NENGNEIMOIHAOK1

(07:16 IST): “Manipur’s conflict will only escalate without a political solution. Manipur’s government is complicit in ethnic violence. Demand justice and protection. #UnionTerritory4KukiZo”
Reaction: Warning of escalation, this post combines fear with a proactive demand for protection via separation, reinforcing distrust in the state’s ability to deliver justice.

Overall Kuki-Zo Sentiment: The Kuki-Zo posts are marked by mourning, indignation, and a unified call for separation, reflecting a community that feels betrayed and endangered. The repeated use of hashtags like #UnionTerritory4KukiZo and appeals to media and global entities indicate a strategy to externalize their plight, seeking intervention beyond Manipur’s polarized politics.

ALSO READ: Manipur — Two Years on: A Federated Way Forward for Lasting Peace

Meitei Reactions: Anger, Victimhood, and Security Demands

Meitei posts on X expressed anger, a sense of victimhood, and urgent demands for the NRC, border security, and action against Kuki militancy, framing the conflict as a security crisis fueled by illegal immigration and separatism. The following posts from May 3, 2025, capture their perspective:

@Tongjei_Maril

(08:14 IST): “ 3 May : Kuki Violence Day. The day which reminded #Meiteis about the sinister motives of KukiZo separatists to balkanise #Manipur by working surreptitiously and in tandem with like minded secessionists.
Reaction: Labeling May 3 as “Kuki Violence Day” flips the Kuki-Zo narrative, casting them as aggressors with “sinister motives.” The accusation of “balkanising” Manipur reflects fear of territorial disintegration, with tags to central authorities signaling a demand for intervention.
@Khonjel_Manipur

(07:16 IST): “Let us remind Meetei has come long way . Here Kuki Millitants rain bullets to unarmed Meetei Guns cannot dictate , 2 yrs and we need to act 1. Punished Kuki Supremacist 2. Abrogate SOO 3. Ensure free movement 4. Root out narco terrorist and poppy 5. Ensure IDPs return to”
Reaction: This post conveys resilience and outrage, portraying Meiteis as unarmed victims of Kuki aggression. The detailed demands—punishing “supremacists,” ending the SoO agreement, and curbing narco-terrorism—reflect a proactive stance to restore control and security.
@Moirangmcha (07:06 IST): “ @Sumkawn

SoO and non SoO group attacked Meitei settlement in Moreh Churchandpur Kangpokpi Sugunu with assault rifles. Meitei retaliated with stick and stones pressure the govt to take action. Kuki pinki: arrest meitei.”
Reaction: The post drips with frustration, alleging Kuki militant attacks and biased state responses. The imagery of Meiteis using “sticks and stones” against rifles emphasizes victimhood, while criticizing arrests of Meiteis fuels distrust in authorities.
@ManipurUnity

(09:30 IST): “2 yrs since Kuki militants sparked violence on May 3, 2023. Meiteis demand NRC with 1951 base year, end SoO with Kuki groups, and border fencing to stop illegal immigrants. ”
Reaction: Blaming Kuki militants for initiating violence, this post channels anger into specific demands—NRC, ending SoO, and border fencing—reflecting a belief that external threats drive the conflict. Tagging top leaders shows reliance on central intervention.

ALSO READ: Manipur — Two years on: People deserve lasting peace, justice, and security.

@MeiteiVoice

(10:20 IST): “May 3, 2023: Kuki insurgents attacked Meiteis, looted arms. 260+ dead. Centre must enforce NRC, deport illegals, crush narco-terror. Meiteis stand for Manipur’s integrity! #ManipurViolence ”
Reaction: This post combines grief over casualties with a call to action, accusing Kuki insurgents of starting the violence. The emphasis on “Manipur’s integrity” reflects a territorial and cultural protectiveness, with demands for deportation and anti-terror measures signaling a hardline stance.

Overall Meitei Sentiment: Meitei posts are fueled by anger, a sense of betrayal, and a defensive posture, framing Kuki-Zo as separatists and immigrants threatening Manipur’s unity. The focus on NRC, border fencing, and ending SoO agreements reveals a community seeking to reclaim control through security measures, with appeals to the central government indicating distrust in local governance.

Overall Atmosphere in Manipur on May 3, 2025

As Manipur marked the second anniversary of the 2023 violence, the state was shrouded in a tense and mournful atmosphere, exacerbated by a deepening ethnic divide and stringent security measures. In Imphal, Churachandpur, and Kangpokpi—key areas of past violence—security forces were deployed in large numbers, with checkpoints, patrolling, and curfew-like restrictions to prevent clashes. The Manipur Police and central paramilitary units, including the Assam Rifles, maintained a high alert, particularly in buffer zones separating Meitei-dominated valleys and Kuki-Zo-dominated hills. Reports of flag marches and drone surveillance underscored the state’s fragile peace.

The X posts mirrored the ground reality: a state polarized along ethnic lines, with little room for dialogue. Kuki-Zo communities held somber memorial events, including candlelight vigils and prayer meetings in hill districts and diaspora hubs like Delhi and Guwahati, reinforcing their “Separation Day” narrative. Meitei groups organized rallies in Imphal, demanding NRC and justice for displaced families, often under heavy police presence to prevent escalation. The absence of joint commemorations or reconciliation efforts highlighted the chasm between the communities.

ALSO READ: Two Years After Violence, Meitei Alliance Slams Central Govt’s Inaction in Manipur

The deepening divide was palpable in the mutual accusations on X—Kuki-Zo labeling Meiteis as oppressors, Meiteis branding Kuki-Zo as separatists and immigrants. This polarization was compounded by distrust in the state government, with both sides appealing to the central government and external entities for redress. The ongoing displacement of thousands, destruction of villages, and sporadic ceasefire violations by armed groups added to the sense of unresolved trauma.

In summary, Manipur on May 3, 2025, was a state under siege—not just by security forces but by its own fractured social fabric. The X reactions, laden with grief, anger, and irreconcilable demands, reflected a society grappling with the scars of 2023, with peace remaining elusive amid high security and a widening ethnic gulf.