A surge of ethnic violence is escalating in India’s northeastern state of Manipur, marking the most intense conflict since last year’s deadly clashes. The renewed fighting involves primarily the Meitei and Kuki communities and has recently extended to include the Naga people, further complicating territorial and residency disputes in the region.

In recent weeks, multiple violent incidents have been reported, including ambushes, kidnappings, and public protests. Among the casualties are three Kuki church leaders killed in an ambush on May 13. Overall, more than a dozen people have died, and numerous individuals have been abducted amid the unrest. The conflict has deepened a longstanding divide between the Meitei, who predominantly inhabit the Imphal valley and surrounding plains, and the Kuki, who mainly live in the hill districts.

The situation deteriorated sharply in May 2023, when clashes between Meiteis and Kukis resulted in hundreds of deaths and widespread displacement. The Indian government responded by deploying paramilitary forces and effectively partitioning the state with heavily militarized buffer zones to contain the violence. However, these measures have failed to produce lasting peace and have instead entrenched divisions.

The current flare-up also involves the Naga population, who have clashed with Kukis in the hill areas over control of land and residency claims, escalating the complexity and scale of the conflict. Tens of thousands of residents remain displaced, with camps established in public buildings, often partitioned by makeshift barriers, where displaced persons receive minimal government support.

Security remains a prominent feature across Manipur. National Highway 2, which connects the state to the rest of India, is lined with numerous armed checkpoints and restricted zones. A buffer zone nearly two miles wide, monitored by the army, paramilitary units, and state police, prohibits movement between Meitei and Kuki controlled territories. Residents face significant risks traveling outside their ethnic enclaves, and many have been forced to rebuild lives far from their homes.

Local voices reflect the profound human toll of the conflict. Dr. Neiting Chagsam, a Kuki physician, lost her clinic during the violence and now operates a makeshift clinic in Churachandpur, voicing resignation about the fractured social fabric. Meanwhile, Meitei journalist Lairenlakpam Singh, displaced from his home near the Myanmar border, remains hopeful that peace will ultimately return and that displaced persons will reclaim their communities.

The Indian government has yet to issue a formal response to the latest developments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi briefly visited Manipur in September 2023, but officials have largely characterized the violence as part of the region’s turbulent history, emphasizing that most fatalities occurred during the initial riots last year.

The evolving conflict in Manipur underscores the challenges in addressing deep-seated ethnic tensions in India’s northeastern frontier, where longstanding grievances and competition for resources continue to fuel cycles of violence and displacement.