Manipur: Kuki-Zo Council calls Meitei march ‘provocative’ as displaced families intensify return protests

A fresh escalation near the Torbung–Kangvai buffer zone on November 21 has heightened tensions in Manipur, with the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) condemning an attempted march by Meitei displaced families toward Churachandpur amid ongoing protests linked to the Sangai Festival.

Security personnel fired tear gas and smoke shells after a group of Meitei displaced residents tried to advance beyond the restricted stretch of the Torbung–Kangvai highway. The attempt to cross the sensitive buffer line triggered concern across both communities, as the route has remained a volatile boundary since the ethnic conflict began over two years ago.

In a statement issued on November 22, the KZC described the movement as “provocative” and accused “certain Meitei groups” of repeatedly attempting to breach the buffer zone.

The Council said these actions forced the Kuki-Zo community to remain in a state of constant defensive alert. It also argued that the continued instability demonstrated why coexistence under a single administrative system was no longer feasible, reiterating its demand for a separate Union Territory for the Kuki-Zo people. The Council said constitutional separation had become an “essential security requirement” for its community’s survival.

Calling for urgent intervention from the Centre, the Council warned that Manipur was in danger of “slipping back into conflict” unless immediate steps were taken to stabilise the situation. The statement was signed by Ginza Vualzong, Secretary of Information and Publicity, Kuki-Zo Council.

Also Read: Displaced families at Kwakta relief camp protest Sangai festival, demand return home

Meanwhile, displaced families residing at the Kwakta Relief Camp continued their protests demanding immediate resettlement in their native villages. They criticised the state government for hosting the Sangai Festival while thousands of families remain uprooted and living in relief camps for over two years. Demonstrators said that if the government believed the situation had normalised enough to hold a major tourism event, then displaced residents should also be permitted to return home.

Tensions escalated further on Saturday at Phugakchao Ikhai, where a large group of displaced families from Churachandpur, Torbung Bangla and several deserted villages attempted to march back to their homes. Security forces blocked the march when the crowd surged forward.

One displaced resident, Koijam Sarat Meitei, expressed frustration over the prolonged displacement. He said families were “losing patience” after two years of waiting without a clear roadmap for return. “How long will we remain displaced in our own state? If the government claims normalcy by holding the Sangai Festival, then we should be allowed to go home,” he said.

The state administration has not issued a detailed statement on the weekend’s developments, but security deployment in the buffer areas has reportedly been strengthened to prevent further escalation.
 

(Inputs from Babie Shirin)