In brief
The northeastern state of Manipur has seen two separate fatal clashes on Sunday and Saturday that left five Kuki men dead. The incidents occurred in Kangpokpi and Noney districts amid longstanding ethnic tensions over tribal status and inclusion of the Meitei community in scheduled‑tribe lists.
In the Indian state of Manipur, clashes between the Kuki and Naga tribal groups on the weekend of November 2 and 3 left five Kuki men dead. The first tragedy unfolded in Kangpokpi district when a crowd gathered after the bodies of two missing Kuki men from Taphou village were recovered on the 28th of October. Government forces reacted with tear‑gas shelling and baton charges to disperse the agitated crowd, and several protesters were reported injured. The second incident occurred in Noney district, where a shootout between armed groups at Kekru Naga village on Saturday killed three Kuki men. Police said they were taking extensive search operations to identify those responsible.
Background
Manipur has been on edge since a large‑scale clash in May 2023, when a protest over the inclusion of the Meitei non‑tribal community in the state’s scheduled‑tribe list—an administrative category that grants reservation in education and government jobs—saw widespread violence. The federal government imposed direct rule over the state in February 2024, which lasted almost a year before being revoked in February 2025. Local authorities report that at least 306 people have been killed and 49 others are missing in the conflict that began in May.
In the latest episodes, a senior Kuki tribal body blamed Naga outfits for the killings in Noney. Meanwhile, a Reuters report described the gunfire in Noney as “an exchange of gunfire between unnamed armed miscreants,” adding that three Kuki men were killed by “unidentified armed miscreants.”
"An exchange of gunfire between unidentified armed miscreants",
Reuter’s correspondent noted the phrase in context of the Noney incident. A police spokesperson, speaking in an official statement, said that the search and combing operation was continuing at the site of the violence in Kekru. The spokesperson also confirmed that the government had deployed additional security personnel in both districts in a bid to stem further escalation.
The incidents underscore the fragile situation in Manipur, where ethnic divisions and disputes over political representation regularly flare into deadly confrontations. The state’s tribal communities have long faced challenges in securing equal rights and resources. This week’s violence adds fresh casualties to an already tragic tally that has left the region in tense unease.
