Ethnic Divide Deepens: As thousands are displaced by unprecedented floods in Imphal Valley, an online conflict exacerbates long-standing ethnic tensions, with each side using social media to push their narrative of blame.
BY PC Bureau
June 3, 2025: — The Imphal Valley in Manipur, a region long plagued by ethnic tensions, has become the epicenter of a new battleground—not just on the ground but also in the digital realm. The recent unprecedented flooding in the valley has sparked a fierce social media war between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, with each side trading accusations over the root causes of the environmental disaster. While Meiteis point fingers at the Kuki-Zo for deforestation driven by alleged poppy cultivation, the Kuki-Zo counter with claims of mismanaged government schemes and timber smuggling patronized by valley leaders. This escalating online conflict is not only deepening the ethnic divide but also complicating efforts to address the environmental and humanitarian crises in Manipur.
The Floods and Their Fallout
The Imphal Valley, home to the majority Meitei population, has faced increasingly frequent and severe flooding in recent years. What was once a rare occurrence tied to heavy monsoons has become a recurring nightmare, with social media posts highlighting the devastation caused by inundated homes, disrupted livelihoods, and damaged infrastructure. The latest floods, described as unprecedented, have displaced thousands and intensified scrutiny on the underlying causes. Both communities, already polarized by the violent ethnic clashes since May 2023, have seized on the floods to fuel their narratives, turning platforms like X into battlegrounds for blame and counter-blame.
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Meitei Narrative: Poppy Cultivation and Deforestation
The Meitei community, predominantly residing in the Imphal Valley, has been vocal on social media, attributing the flooding to rampant deforestation in the surrounding hills, where the Kuki-Zo are the majority. Posts on X, such as one from a user identifying as an Imphal native, claim that “Kuki illegal poppy plantations—thousands of acres carved out of our Koubru & Thangjing forests—wrecking our catchment areas” are to blame for the deluge. Another post asserts, “Flood in Imphal valley is due to mass deforestation for poppy plantation by Kukis in Koubru n other North Hills,” citing “ample evidence” of forest destruction in Kuki-dominated areas like Kangpokpi.
Blame #Kukis for the floods in #Manipur. The floods in #Manipur aren’t just natural, they’re man-made. Mass deforestation by Kukis for poppy farming has stripped vital tree cover, causing severe erosion. Loose soil clogs rivers, reduces flow capacity & triggers devastating floods pic.twitter.com/tPH57DLA9Y
— The_Realist_khuman (@Therealist53153) June 1, 2025
These accusations align with broader narratives that have emerged since the ethnic violence began in 2023. The Meitei-led state government, under former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, has repeatedly targeted Kuki-Zo communities for allegedly engaging in poppy cultivation, which is linked to the drug trade and environmental degradation. A 2024 report by the Manipur Remote Sensing Applications Centre (MARSAC) noted a 32.13% decline in poppy cultivation due to anti-drug efforts but highlighted that deforestation from such activities has caused soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and changes in local climate—factors that exacerbate flooding in the valley. The state government has also claimed that illegal poppy fields, particularly in Kuki-dominated districts like Kangpokpi and Churachandpur, have contributed to ecological imbalances.
Meitei social media users argue that the destruction of forest cover in the hills, which serve as a watershed for rivers flowing into the Imphal Valley, has disrupted natural water retention, leading to excessive runoff and flooding. They point to the government’s “War on Drugs” campaign, launched in 2017, which destroyed poppy plantations across 19,135.6 acres, as evidence of the scale of the issue in Kuki areas. For many Meiteis, the Kuki-Zo’s alleged role in deforestation is not just an environmental issue but a direct attack on their homeland’s ecological and economic stability.
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Kuki-Zo Counter-Narrative: Government Mismanagement and Timber Smuggling
The Kuki-Zo community, primarily inhabiting the hills surrounding the Imphal Valley, has hit back with equally forceful accusations. On social media, Kuki-Zo voices argue that the Meitei-dominated state government’s mismanagement of funds and failure to improve Imphal’s drainage infrastructure are the real culprits behind the flooding. A post on X by a Kuki-Zo user states, “Meitei govt under @NBirenSingh fails to improve Imphal’s drainage while high on greed for tribal Kuki homeland despite huge budget, yet blames Kuki land for flooding deflecting accountability.” The user also notes that abnormal rainfall and flooding have affected the entire Northeast, not just Manipur, suggesting that the problem transcends local ethnic dynamics.
Even a little rain will flood the Imphal valley where all development funds have been utilized. I now start to wonder if this is due to deforestation. Flood in the hills? Blame deforestation. What about flood in the plain? I say – deforestation.#TATAIPL
Dubai#GirodItalia#paobc pic.twitter.com/MZx8fQWgrF— David 𝐊𝐮𝐤𝐢 (@KipsKuki) May 30, 2025
More critically, Kuki-Zo advocates accuse valley leaders of enabling timber smuggling, which they claim is a significant driver of deforestation. A post on X questions why Meiteis “ignore environmental degradation in the Imphal Valley—such as illegal timber trade, loss of wetlands, sawmill operations, and riverbank encroachment—and instead blame Kukis for everything, even floods in the valley.” This narrative challenges the Meitei focus on poppy cultivation by highlighting environmental issues within the valley itself, such as unregulated sawmills and wetland destruction, which reduce the valley’s ability to absorb floodwaters.
Kuki-Zo leaders further argue that the state government’s policies, including eviction drives to clear forest lands, have disproportionately targeted their communities under the guise of environmental protection. These drives, part of the “War on Drugs” and forest conservation efforts, are seen as discriminatory by the Kuki-Zo, who claim they are labeled as “illegal immigrants” and “poppy cultivators” to justify their marginalization. Social scientists have pointed out that while poppy cultivation is a factor, it is often poor Kuki cultivators who are targeted, while wealthier Meitei funders of the drug trade escape scrutiny. The Kuki-Zo also allege that timber smuggling, often with the tacit support of valley-based elites, contributes significantly to deforestation but is conveniently ignored in the Meitei narrative.
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The Role of Social Media in Amplifying the Divide
The social media war over the Imphal Valley floods is a microcosm of the broader ethnic conflict that has gripped Manipur since May 2023. The flood-related discourse has seen similar patterns, with each community leveraging social media to deflect blame and assert victimhood. Superspreader events, such as viral images of flood damage or posts about alleged atrocities, have further inflamed tensions. The lack of verified information and the emotional intensity of the posts make it difficult to separate fact from propaganda, deepening mistrust between the communities.
Manipur: Along with drug trade, illegal timber trade thrives openly in Imphal valley run by Meiteis. These same Meiteis blame tribals for deforestation. If timber moves this freely, imagine the scale of forest loss due to this trade.@Chengchengpi pic.twitter.com/ZUqcqbGp5m
— Ravinder Kapur. (@RavinderKapur2) May 30, 2025
Environmental and Political Realities
While the social media war rages on, the environmental realities in Manipur are complex and multifaceted. Deforestation, whether from poppy cultivation or timber smuggling, has undoubtedly contributed to the flooding crisis. The MARSAC report confirms that large-scale poppy cultivation in hill districts has led to soil erosion and ecological imbalances, but it also notes that law enforcement efforts have targeted these activities extensively. Meanwhile, wetland loss and riverbank encroachment in the Imphal Valley, as highlighted by Kuki-Zo advocates, are well-documented issues that exacerbate flooding by reducing natural water absorption capacity.
Corrupt government schemes aimed at flood mitigation and infrastructure development have faced criticism from both sides. The Meitei community argues that funds are insufficient to counter the environmental damage caused by hill-based activities, while the Kuki-Zo point to corruption and misallocation of resources within the valley. The state’s failure to address these systemic issues has left both communities feeling aggrieved, fueling their respective narratives of blame.
Why does flooding occur every time it rains?
Has the situation at areas under Lamphel improved this time? More than 400 acres of land in Lamphel have been dug out at a depth of more than 9 meters by the state government and rejuvenated a water body, turning it into a catchment… pic.twitter.com/tq9NKFNmmH
— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) June 3, 2025
The social media war over the Imphal Valley floods underscores the deep-seated mistrust and ethnic divisions in Manipur. While both communities raise valid concerns about environmental degradation, their focus on blaming each other has overshadowed the need for collaborative solutions. Experts argue that government neutrality is critical to fostering dialogue and addressing the root causes of the conflict. However, the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in February 2025, following allegations of instigating violence, and the imposition of President’s Rule have yet to yield tangible progress toward peace.
To mitigate the flooding crisis, comprehensive measures are needed: strengthening Imphal’s drainage systems, regulating timber and land use in both the valley and hills, and implementing reforestation programs. Equally important is addressing the socio-political grievances that fuel the online and offline conflicts. The recent peace talks in New Delhi between Meitei and Kuki-Zo representatives ended inconclusively, with the Kuki-Zo demanding a separate administration and the Meiteis opposing any division of Manipur. Without mutual trust and a commitment to inclusive governance, the social media war—and the broader ethnic conflict—will continue to undermine Manipur’s stability.
