IMPHAL — Smoke billowed over the hills of Manipur again on Wednesday as fresh clashes broke out, leaving a trail of torched homes and terrified residents. The renewed surge in violence marks another brutal chapter in the state’s long-standing ethnic conflict, shattering the fragile calm that had held for several weeks.
Local police confirmed that armed groups exchanged gunfire throughout the night in the border areas of Jiribam and Churachandpur. By dawn, several houses had been reduced to ash. Families in the affected districts scrambled to gather belongings, fleeing toward makeshift relief camps as the sound of explosions echoed through the valley.
The state government has responded by reimposing strict curfews and suspending internet services across the most volatile districts. Officials argue the blackout is necessary to stop the spread of inflammatory rumors, yet the measure has also cut off thousands from emergency services and accurate information.
“We have no idea if our neighborhood is next,” said a resident of a nearby village, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. “The security forces are present, but they seem overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the chaos.”
The conflict, which pits the Meitei community against the Kuki-Zo tribes, has claimed hundreds of lives since it ignited in May 2023. At the core of the dispute is a bitter struggle over land rights, political representation, and state quotas. While central authorities in New Delhi have deployed thousands of paramilitary troops to the region, the security presence has struggled to bridge the deep-seated mistrust between the two groups.
Politicians in the state capital, Imphal, remain locked in a blame game. Opposition leaders accuse the state government of failing to protect civilians, while ruling party officials point to “militant infiltration” from across the border as the primary driver of the latest unrest.
Despite the deployment of heavy reinforcements, the violence shows no sign of abating. The divide has hardened into a permanent state of siege, with both sides now living in fortified enclaves. For the families caught in the crossfire, the promise of peace from New Delhi feels increasingly distant as their homes continue to burn.
