Manipur: President’s Rule Isn’t Perfect — But It’s Better Than Surrendering to Chaos and Bloodshed
While not a permanent fix, central rule is essential to curb violence, restore tribal trust, and pursue justice in a deeply fractured state.
BY Navin Upadhyay
Manipur remains a state on edge, scarred by ethnic violence that has claimed over 250 lives and displaced nearly 60,000 people since May 2023. The imposition of President’s Rule on February 13, 2025, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, marked a crucial turning point in addressing the spiraling crisis. While some MLAs are now demanding a return to elected governance, such a move would be both premature and perilous.
The state’s fragile security architecture, deep tribal mistrust, and unresolved allegations involving Biren Singh necessitate continued central oversight to ensure stability, neutrality, and justice—at least until the Ministry of Home Affairs initiates meaningful dialogue with all key stakeholders in Manipur.
Crackdown on Militants and Drug Cartels: A Work in Progress
The ongoing conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities has been fueled by armed militias and insurgent groups exploiting the state’s political vacuum. Since President’s Rule began, security forces—comprising the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, and Manipur Police—have intensified operations, leading to the seizure of large caches of firearms, IEDs, and ammunition in districts like Tengnoupal, Imphal East, and Churachandpur. Over 300 militants, extortionists, and drug peddlers have been arrested within the two-and-a-half months of central rule.
READ: Terror on NH-37: Truck Driver Abducted Despite CRPF Escort in Manipur
These actions have significantly disrupted militant networks and led to the recovery of hundreds of looted weapons—many stolen from police armories since May 2023. In one recent operation along National Highway-2, three drug traffickers were arrested, highlighting renewed efforts to dismantle the narcotics trade that funds insurgency.
🚨BIG BREAKING NEWS:
The President rule will be dissolved in Manipur as soon.
Manipur: 10 MLAs (8 BJP, 1 NPP, 1 Independent) met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan, Imphal to stake claim to form the government. मणिपुर इंफाल #Manipur #ManipurPolitics#ManipurGovernment pic.twitter.com/G2uzkhaEzx
— TIger NS (@TIgerNS3) May 28, 2025
However, President’s Rule is not a perfect solution. Both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities have raised concerns about perceived selective targeting. The Meitei civil society body, Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), recently staged protests after the Army removed the word “Manipur” from a state transport bus carrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival. Meanwhile, the Kuki-Zo Students’ Organisation has announced a massive protest for May 31 against what it terms the “arbitrary arrest” of its members.
READ: Nagas Impose Ban on Kukis Movement Across 4 Manipur Zones
Nonetheless, reinstating an elected government now risks undermining the neutral space required to maintain law and order. The emergence of militant groups like Arambai Tenggol was itself a symptom of weakened state governance. President’s Rule offers a neutral framework for sustained security operations without the political interference that undermined the previous regime.
Restoring Tribal Confidence
The Kuki-Zo community, comprising about 16% of Manipur’s 3.2 million population, has consistently expressed deep mistrust in Meitei-majority rule—particularly under Biren Singh. The violence in 2023, triggered by a court ruling favoring Meitei demands for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, only reinforced tribal fears of cultural and political marginalization.
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“A Meitei-led government, even with a new chief minister, risks reinforcing the perception of systemic bias. Only a neutral, centrally administered framework can rebuild confidence through inclusive reconciliation mechanisms involving civil society groups, women’s collectives, and religious leaders,” said a Delhi-based observer on Manipur conflict.
Echoing a similar sentiment, Bejamin Mate, chairman of the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), says, “President’s Rule must continue until there is a resolution on the political demands of the Kuki-Zo. After what happened on May 3, 2023, and the violence that followed, the Kuki-Zo people will never feel safe under a Meitei-led government again.”
On the other hand, several prominent Meitei civil society organizations and MLAs are strongly demanding the revocation of President’s Rule and the restoration of an elected government. They argue that President’s Rule cannot offer a lasting solution to the ongoing crisis, and its continuation risks weakening democratic institutions—ultimately strengthening the hands of insurgents and militants.
The Biren Singh Tapes: A Cloud Over Accountability
A major point of contention remains the controversial audio recordings allegedly featuring N. Biren Singh. A forensic report submitted to the Supreme Court on February 3, 2025, showed a 93% voice match with tapes in which Singh purportedly encouraged Meitei groups to loot arms on May 3, 2023. If authenticated, the tapes suggest direct complicity in orchestrating ethnic violence, undermining any residual trust in state governance tied to Singh or his party.
Restoring an elected government before the tapes are conclusively verified risks inflaming ethnic tensions. If proven authentic, Singh must be prosecuted. If cleared, the central government must communicate its findings transparently to assure tribal communities of impartiality. Either way, President’s Rule serves as a critical buffer against politically motivated disruptions of justice.
Why Neutral Administration Must Continue
Calls to revoke President’s Rule ignore the deep ethnic divisions and institutional collapse that led to its imposition. The Manipur Assembly, whose term runs until 2027, remains under suspended animation and can be revived once lasting stability is achieved.
The current administration under Governor A.K. Bhalla—former Union Home Secretary—offers a rare window for unbiased governance. It has the capacity to navigate difficult questions like the ST status for Meiteis and Kuki-Zo demands for self-rule under Union Territory status. Only a neutral authority can facilitate these sensitive negotiations without favor.
Fresh Unrest Underscores the Danger of Premature Governance
Several recent incidents underscore how volatile Manipur remains:
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Governor A.K. Bhalla Airlifted Amid Protests: On May 26, 2025, Governor Bhalla was airlifted by helicopter from Imphal airport to Kangla Fort due to massive protests that rendered road travel unsafe. Protesters had formed human chains and blocked the airport road, signaling the state’s continuing inability to guarantee basic movement even for constitutional authorities.
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Truck Driver Abducted Despite CRPF Escort: In Kangpokpi district, a truck driver was abducted while part of a convoy under CRPF protection. A similar abduction took place along NH-37 between Jiribam and Imphal. These brazen incidents demonstrate that armed groups still operate with impunity, even in supposedly secure zones.
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Shirui Lily Festival Controversy: The festival itself was not canceled, but controversy erupted when the Army removed the word “Manipur” from a bus carrying journalists to Ukhrul. The action, justified on security grounds, was seen by many Meiteis as an affront to the state’s identity.
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Arambai Tenggol Provocation: Members of Arambai Tenggol climbed the sacred Shirui Hill and allegedly shouted objectionable slogans, prompting strong condemnation from the NSCN (I-M). The Naga outfit accused them of communal provocation, warning that such acts threatened peace and the dignity of the Naga people.
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Kuki-Kacha Naga Tensions: Clashes between Kuki and Kacha Naga communities have heightened fears that ethnic polarization is spreading beyond the Meitei-Kuki divide, potentially destabilizing the broader hill regions.
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These Are Not Isolated Events — They Are Alarms
The fact that security forces struggle to assert control, that civil protests disrupt constitutional processes, and that even cultural festivals can trigger communal outrage—all point to a state in deep distress. Reinstating a Meitei-led government in such an environment risk reigniting the violence that President’s Rule is only beginning to contain.
Manipur’s fragile peace demands patience, neutral leadership, and sustained engagement. Premature political restoration would not only reverse recent gains but plunge the state back into its darkest chapter.
