Manipur in Turmoil Again! One Dead, Several Injured in Fresh Ethnic Clash

A fresh wave of ethnic violence erupted in Manipur’s Churachandpur district late Tuesday night, leaving one person dead and several others injured, police reported. The clashes, which broke out between members of the Zomi and Hmar tribes, occurred just hours after a peace settlement was reached between the apex bodies of the two communities, highlighting the fragile state of truce in the strife-torn region.

The violence reportedly began when a group attempted to remove a flag belonging to a Zomi militant outfit in Churachandpur town. The situation quickly escalated as mobs armed with batons engaged in stone-pelting, vandalized properties, and clashed with one another. Security forces struggled to contain the unrest, firing tear gas shells and several rounds into the air to disperse the crowds. Amid the chaos, shots were fired by unidentified individuals within the mob, though police have yet to determine the source.

The deceased, identified as Lalropui Pakhumate, 53, succumbed to injuries sustained during the violence. Several others were wounded and are receiving treatment at local medical facilities. “The clashes erupted late Tuesday night, despite a peace agreement earlier in the day. We are working to restore order,” a senior police official in Imphal said.

The unrest follows a recent incident on March 16, when Richard Hmar, general secretary of the Hmar Inpui, was assaulted by members of the Zomi community, sparking tensions that led to an indefinite shutdown in the district. On Tuesday, the Hmar Inpui and Zomi Council had negotiated a settlement, with the attacker’s family agreeing to pay Rs 50,000 for a customary peace feast and Rs 2 lakh for Hmar’s medical expenses. However, the late-night flag dispute unraveled these efforts.

In response, the Zomi Students’ Federation imposed an emergency shutdown in Churachandpur, suspending all normal activities and urging residents to stay indoors. The district administration, led by Magistrate Dharun Kumar S, issued an appeal for calm, stating, “The conflict has caused significant distress. We urge residents to cease violent activities and cooperate with authorities.” A curfew remains in place, with Central Armed Police Forces conducting flag marches to maintain vigilance.

Manipur has been gripped by ethnic violence since May 2023, primarily between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, claiming over 250 lives and displacing thousands. The latest Zomi-Hmar clash underscores the deepening divisions among tribal groups, even within the broader Kuki umbrella, as the state struggles to find lasting peace under President’s rule, imposed in February 2025 following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.

Security forces continue to monitor the situation closely as investigations into Tuesday’s violence proceed.