The government’s attempt to restore normalcy in Manipur by deploying security forces to escort buses has met with fierce resistance. As ethnic tensions simmer, how long can peace be enforced through the barrel of a gun?
BY Navin Upadhyay
In isolation, a highway blockade may seem indefensible. After all, highways are the lifelines of any state, ensuring the flow of goods, people, and services. Under normal circumstances, any government’s decision to clear obstructions and restore free movement would be seen as necessary and justified. But in Manipur, nothing exists in isolation. Every protest, every crackdown, every statement carries layers of historical grievances, unaddressed injustices, and political maneuvering. Without unraveling these layers, any judgment on events unfolding in the state risks being shortsighted.
This is the context in which the Kuki-Zo women-led protests against the resumption of highway movement must be understood. The government’s decision to forcibly open highways without wider consultation has reignited tensions, leading to a violent crackdown on International Women’s Day—a day meant to honor and uphold women’s rights. Instead, Kuki-Zo women were lathi-charged, beaten, and dragged off the streets for resisting a government directive they saw as unilateral and oppressive.
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Of course, critics could justify the use of force against the protesters, arguing that they too resorted to stone pelting, blocking highways, and damaging vehicles. But such a blame game cannot account for the sheer level of violence that has engulfed Manipur. The real issue is not just the immediate clashes but the deep-seated ethnic tensions that have been left to fester without meaningful intervention. Until justice, accountability, and genuine dialogue take precedence over force, the cycle of unrest will continue, making lasting peace an increasingly distant dream.
Ignoring Justice for May 3, 2023
At the heart of the Kuki-Zo community’s defiance is a simple question: Why has justice and accountability for the May 3, 2023 ethnic violence been ignored? Before enforcing “normalcy,” why hasn’t the government prioritized justice for those who lost their homes, families, and dignity?
Is it unreasonable to demand that the perpetrators of violence—whether Meitei or Kuki, militant or insurgent—be brought to justice? Should those who burned homes, torched ambulances with people inside, and committed acts of unspeakable brutality not face consequences? Should rapists, murderers, and looters not be held accountable?
#Manipur_Violence #Gamgiphai#InternationalWomensDay
The actions of the central forces on March 8, 2025, raise serious questions about the government’s treatment of Kuki women and their consistent disregard for the dignity and safety of civilians in conflict zones. On a day… pic.twitter.com/HNff7SblOL
— Official KSO Shillong (@kso_shillong) March 8, 2025
Moreover, what about the mass looting of weapons from police armories? Could such an operation—where thousands of firearms and lakhs of rounds of ammunition were stolen—have happened without insider complicity? Yet, there has been no serious investigation, no accountability, and no effort to trace these weapons, many of which have been used in ongoing violence.
Whenever demands for justice are raised, those asking difficult questions are met with trolling, threats, and accusations. It is as if Manipur operates under a feudal law of “might is right,” where state intervention in the name of justice is unwelcome, and power alone dictates peace.
Selective Engagement
The Home Ministry and Governor Ajay Bhalla have  actively engaged with Meitei groups, accommodating their demands. The Governor even held talks with Arambai Tenggol, an organization facing accusations of assaulting security forces and looting weapons.
Yet, there has been no such outreach to the Kuki-Zo community. No attempt to bring them to the table, listen to their grievances, or address their fears. Instead, they have been met with bullets, batons, and silence.
If the government believes it can enforce peace through the barrel of a gun, history has proven that such peace is temporary at best. Real peace demands dialogue, justice, and accountability. Without these, today’s violence on the highways is only a prelude to a deeper, more prolonged crisis.
or how long will empty buses continue to ply the highways of Manipur, and for how long will private vehicles require armed escorts to ensure safe passage? The current arrangement is not a solution but a fragile bandage over a deep, festering wound. With the situation remaining as volatile as ever, the risk of fresh violence looms large, and any miscalculation could set off another cycle of bloodshed. The government must recognize that bullets and bayonets cannot impose lasting peace. True stability can only come through genuine dialogue, where both communities—Meitei and Kuki-Zo—are engaged as equal stakeholders in resolving the ethnic tensions tearing the state apart.
