The largest mobilisation took place in Churachandpur, where thousands gathered under the banner of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), combining remembrance with a renewed push for a separate administrative arrangement.
BY PC Bureau
May 3, 2026 — Three years after ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, Manipur remains deeply fractured, with thousands still displaced, justice elusive, and political solutions stalled. On this solemn anniversary, both sides held separate commemorations that underscored sharply divergent narratives and competing visions for the state’s future.
The conflict began on May 3, 2023, triggered by tensions over a High Court directive on Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community. What started as protests quickly spiralled into widespread arson, killings, and destruction, leaving more than 260 people dead, displacing over 65,000, and dividing the state along ethnic lines between the Imphal Valley and the surrounding hill districts.
Kuki-Zo Observances: “Separation Day” Marked with Protests and Prayers
The Kuki-Zo community marked the day as “Separation Day,” organising remembrance services, protest rallies, and prayer gatherings across hill districts such as Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, as well as in New Delhi.
The largest mobilisation of the day was led by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) in Churachandpur, where thousands gathered in what organisers described as the most significant public demonstration marking the third anniversary.
From early morning, people from surrounding villages and relief camps began arriving in Churachandpur town, many travelling in groups carrying community flags, banners, and photographs of those killed during the violence. The main programme was held at a central public ground, where a solemn memorial ceremony preceded a mass rally. Religious leaders led prayers for the deceased, followed by moments of silence observed by the crowd.
READ: Three Years On, Manipur’s Wounds Linger as Nation Looks Away
READ: Kuki Armed Group Issues Explosive ‘Manifesto of Separation’
Participants—men, women, and large numbers of youth—marched through key roads of the town, raising slogans demanding justice, accountability, and a separate political arrangement. Placards carried messages highlighting unresolved cases of killings, sexual violence, and displacement, while others called for constitutional safeguards and long-term security guarantees. Volunteers maintained order as the procession moved through designated routes under the watch of local security personnel.
Addressing the gathering, ITLF leaders said the scale of participation reflected the “collective pain and determination” of the Kuki-Zo people. They reiterated that three years after the violence, there had been little progress in prosecuting those responsible for major crimes. Speakers also pointed to the continued displacement of thousands, many of whom remain in relief camps, as evidence that normalcy has not returned.
3 May 2026, on the third anniversary of the Manipur ethnic cleansing, Kuki-Zo men staged a silent protest at the Wall of Remembrance in Tuibong and bowed in submission to God, seeking His intervention to deliver justice for the victims of Meitei fascism. @UNHumanRights… pic.twitter.com/jH2EedwO0O
— Min (@minkukizo) May 3, 2026
The ITLF used the platform to renew its demand for a Union Territory with a legislature, arguing that coexistence under the current administrative framework had become untenable. Leaders urged the central government to take concrete steps toward a political resolution, warning that continued inaction would deepen mistrust and instability.
The event concluded with a public pledge by participants to continue peaceful democratic agitation until their demands are addressed. Organisers described the turnout in Churachandpur as a “defining moment” in the ongoing movement, signalling that public sentiment remains firmly aligned with calls for justice, recognition, and structural change
In Kangpokpi, large numbers of residents gathered at martyrs’ cemeteries and public grounds under the banner of the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and other civil society organisations. Participants paid floral tributes to those killed in the violence, while community leaders addressed the crowds, reiterating demands for a separate administrative arrangement.
Speakers at the events emphasised that the past three years had been marked by “collective trauma, displacement, and insecurity.” They urged the community to remain united and vigilant, warning against any attempts to dilute their political demands. Youth volunteers, women’s groups, and student bodies took part in silent marches and candlelight vigils, many carrying placards calling for justice, accountability, and constitutional safeguards.
Parallel protests were also held in New Delhi, where Kuki-Zo student organisations and civil society groups staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar. Protesters raised slogans demanding a Union Territory with a legislature, immediate justice for victims of violence, and greater intervention by the central government. Demonstrators also highlighted the plight of internally displaced persons, many of whom continue to live in relief camps with limited access to livelihood and basic services.
Organisers in the capital said the protest aimed to draw national attention to what they described as “three years of neglect and silence,” urging policymakers and the broader public to engage with the crisis more meaningfully.
In a detailed statement, the Kuki Inpi Manipur described the anniversary as a moment of both remembrance and renewed resolve.
It characterised the past three years as a period of “untold suffering,” honouring those killed and acknowledging the resilience of survivors. The organisation criticised the state government, alleging “systemic discrimination, selective action, and institutional bias.”
The statement cited recent investigative actions, including the arrest of a Kuki-Zo leader in connection with a 2023 case, as an example of what it termed selective targeting. It argued that many accused in cases involving violence against Kuki-Zo civilians had not faced similar legal action.
“Since May 3, 2023, countless Kuki-Zo victims have continued to live with the deep and lasting trauma of unimaginable atrocities,” the statement said, adding that displacement, economic hardship, and psychological distress continue to affect large sections of the community.
Core Political Demand Reiterated
Despite the prolonged crisis, Kuki-Zo organisations reaffirmed their central political demand: the creation of a Union Territory with a legislature under the Constitution of India.
Community leaders argued that the current administrative structure has failed to ensure security and justice, describing the demand as essential for long-term peace and coexistence. They called on the central government to take decisive steps toward a “just and equitable solution.”
A State Still Divided
As Manipur marks three years since the outbreak of violence, the parallel protests in Kangpokpi and New Delhi reflect not just remembrance, but a deepening divide. With little progress on accountability, rehabilitation, or political dialogue, the anniversary has once again highlighted the enduring fault lines that continue to shape the state’s uncertain future.
