Troupes from 17 tribal groups will perform in traditional attire, but the Zomi community is steering clear under ZRA’s directive.
BY PC Bureau
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his first visit to Manipur since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023, Churachandpur district is bracing for a mix of cultural pomp and simmering unrest.
Troupes from 17 tribal communities in the district’s hill areas are slated to join the celebrations, donning their vibrant traditional attire to showcase the region’s rich heritage during Modi’s scheduled address at Peace Ground on September 13. However, the Zomi community – a key ethnic subgroup within the broader Kuki-Zo fold – has opted out, apparently under pressure from the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) to steer clear of the event amid lingering political sensitivities.
The boycott underscores fragile fault lines in Manipur, where clashes between valley-dwelling Meiteis and hill-based Kuki-Zo tribes have claimed over 260 lives, displaced more than 60,000 people, and led to President’s Rule since February 2025.
Read: Opinion: PM’s Landmark Visit—A Turning Point for Kuki-Zo People
Modi’s itinerary, confirmed by Manipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, includes laying foundation stones for development projects at Peace Ground, followed by inaugurations totaling Rs 1,200 crore at Imphal’s Kangla Fort. The prime minister is also expected to interact with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in both locations, signaling a push for “inclusive, sustainable, and holistic development” in the strife-torn state.
Organizers had envisioned a grand display of unity, with representatives from tribes including the Thadou, Paite, Vaiphei, Simte, and others participating in cultural performances. Preparations included billboards, banners, and floral installations along the route to Peace Ground, adorned with saffron motifs proclaiming “Viksit Bharat Viksit Manipur.” Public advisories urged residents to avoid bringing children under 12 or those with medical conditions, while parking restrictions were imposed on key roads like Tipaimukh and Tedim.
Kuki students ban Entry of Meiteis, Announce Curfew for PM visit https://t.co/eh9HLS6R1k #PMVisitManipur #Churachandpur #KSOStatement
#KukiMeiteiTensions #ManipurViolence #PublicCurfew— POWER CORRIDORS (@power_corridors) September 12, 2025
Yet, the Zomi absence casts a shadow. Sources confirmed that no Zomi-affiliated organizations have erected cutouts, banners, or welcome arches in Churachandpur city. “Under the directive of the Zomi Revolutionary Army, the Zomi community has decided to maintain a safe distance from the celebration to welcome the Prime Minister,” one official cited from a ZRA statement. The ZRA, a Paite-dominated insurgent group that splintered from the Kuki National Organisation in the early 2000s, has historically advocated for Zomi autonomy in the hill districts.
READ: PM Modi to Meet Displaced Families in Manipur, Launch ₹8,500 Cr Projects
The discord escalated late Thursday night when miscreants vandalized roadside decorations near Pearson village, approximately 2 km from Peace Ground. Witnesses and officials reported that a group, allegedly including Zomi youth, targeted a large cutout of Prime Minister Modi, along with hoardings, flags, and floral arches prepared for the visit. The assailants pulled down structures, set fire to decorative articles, and clashed briefly with security forces. The confrontation turned violent, with stones thrown and mild force used to disperse the crowd, but the police made no arrests but deployed reinforcements overnight.
Kuki-Zo civil society groups, while welcoming Modi’s focus on Churachandpur as a “rare and historic” gesture, tempered enthusiasm with calls for concrete rehabilitation measures. Kuki Inpi Delhi accused the majority community of attempting to “confuse the nation first and annihilate the minorities,” taking advantage of the region’s backwardness.
As dusk fell on September 12, Churachandpur’s streets carried the scars of division—charred remnants of banners standing in stark contrast to the fresh deployment of security forces.”
With Modi’s helicopter expected to touch down in Aizawl first before flying to Churachandpur – weather permitting – the stakes could not be higher. For the 17 participating tribes, it may be a moment of pride; for the Zomi and others on the sidelines, it is a reminder that peace in Manipur’s hills remains as elusive as the mist-shrouded ridges themselves. Analysts warn that without bridging the ethnic chasm, such visits risk amplifying, rather than healing, the wounds.
