The real story of Manipur |

On 3 May 2023, ethnic violence erupted in India's north-eastern state of Manipur between the Meitei people, a majority that lives in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki tribal community from the surrounding hills.[25] As of 29 July, 181 people have been killed in the violence.[26][27] More than 300 wounded,[28][29][30] and approximately 54,488 displaced.[31][23]

On 14 April 2023, acting on a writ petition by the Metei Tribe Union that demands the Scheduled Tribe status for the valley-based Meitei community, the Manipur High Court ordered the state government to send a recommendation to the central government,[32] a decision later criticised by the Supreme Court.[33] To protest the High Court order, the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur called for a peaceful protest to be conducted on 3 May. After one of these rallies, clashes between Kuki and Meitei groups began near the border between the Churachandpur district and Bishnupur district, followed by house burning.[34][35] For example, the Kuki people, who predominantly reside in the hill regions surrounding the capital valley, have been viewed as being the target of the present state government's treatment of indigenous land rights concerns.[36] A majority of the Kuki people are Christian. There have been evictions in Kuki communities as a result of efforts to survey forests, which were ostensibly made to stop the cultivation of poppies.[37][38][39]

The Meitei Indigenous community has also experienced a rise in insecurity as a result of the flood of refugees following the military coup in neighboring Myanmar in 2021, particularly those from the Sagaing region. The identities of various ethnic communities have been weaponized in the ongoing struggle.[40][38]

According to several organisations, there have been accounts of partisan killings by security forces, as well as allegations of the police siding with the Meitei community.[41][42]A panel led by a retired Chief Justice will investigate the violence, while a peace committee will be established under the Governor and security advisor Kuldeep Singh, along with members of civil society. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will probe six cases related to conspiracy in the violence, ensuring a neutral investigation to uncover the root causes.[43]