Editor’s Note: On the second anniversary of the tragic events in Manipur (May 3, 2023), The Power Corridors invited perspectives from all sides of the ongoing conflict. As part of this initiative, we present an article by Kim Haokip, the spokesperson of Kuki Inpi Delhi.
“I watched my ancestral home burn from afar.”
BY Kim Haokip
The Manipur Ethnic Violence of May 2023 was a brutal conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in India’s northeastern state of Manipur.
The violence erupted on May 3, 2023, following a rally organized by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) to protest the Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Clashes broke out near the Churachandpur and Bishnupur district border, quickly spiraling into widespread violence and destruction.
My Personal Account:
On the morning of May 3, everything felt normal. I went to work, had my coffee, greeted my colleagues. It felt like just another day.
But around 4:30 PM, I received a call from my cousin asking if my family in Imphal was safe. I was aware of the ATSUM Peace Rally. So I asked, “Why, what happened?”
His reply froze me.
He said, “The Meiteis have started killing Kukis in Imphal. Please find out if your family is okay.”
I immediately called my oldest brother in Imphal. He said Meitei mobs had gathered but had been dispersed by the Manipur police—for the moment. The situation, he said, was very tense.
ALSO READ: Bloodshed in Balochistan: BLA Kills 14 Pakistan Soldiers
We believed the state government would step in. We thought it wouldn’t allow things to escalate. How foolish of us. How naive we were to believe the violence would last only a few hours—not two years. How naive were the Kukis to trust a Meitei-led government to protect us?
That night—May 3—was the worst night for Kukis in Imphal.
Meitei mobs began attacking Kuki homes and churches—burning them, shouting hate slogans like “Kuki hatlo!” (Kill the Kukis). Electricity in Imphal city was cut off. Under cover of darkness, like assassins, the mobs hunted Kukis.
ALSO READ: A Doctor’s Plea for Justice and Dignity for Kuki-Zo People
The next morning, May 4, was no better. The violence continued. The burning, the attacks, the fear—none of it stopped. No help came from the state. The only saving grace was the deployment of Indian Security Forces, who began evacuating Kukis from New Lambulane, Chingmeirong, Old Lambulane, Khongsai Veng, Langol, and other areas to camps in Manipur Rifle Grounds, CRPF Langol, and elsewhere.
I began booking flight tickets for my family—about 20 people in all. Tickets cost anywhere between ₹25,000 to ₹55,000 each. It didn’t matter. I had to get them out.
We left our home in Imphal on May 5, 2023. Our ancestral house now stands half-burnt and looted. The mobs couldn’t burn it down completely—it’s made of brick and cement. But they stole everything: iron gates, wooden doors, window grills—gone.
The Broader Picture:
-
Targeted Attacks: Meitei mobs specifically targeted Kuki neighborhoods in the Imphal Valley. According to Reuters, 77 Kukis and 10 Meiteis were killed in the first week of violence.
-
Displacement and Destruction: Thousands were forced to flee their homes. Relief camps overflowed as churches, homes, and entire neighborhoods were reduced to ash. People lost everything—including access to food, water, and shelter.
-
Human Rights Abuses: Disturbing reports of brutality surfaced. One viral video showed two Kuki women being stripped, paraded naked, and sexually assaulted by Meitei men.
Aftermath:
-
Ongoing Tensions: The region remains fraught with fear, hostility, and unresolved trauma.
-
Demand for Separate Administration: The Kuki community is now demanding a separate administration. With deep concerns over safety, justice, and rehabilitation, they feel they have no future under the current Meitei-dominated state government.
