Last Updated on November 3, 2025 by Chicago Policy Review Staff
The adage, “You can’t expect a new destination by walking the same path,” resonates deeply with the ongoing tragedy in Manipur, a northeastern Indian state that shares a nearly 400-kilometer border with Myanmar. Since 2023, the region has been engulfed in relentless ethnic violence, tearing apart the fragile social fabric that once held its diverse communities together.
The world was horrified when graphic visuals of two naked women being paraded through the streets surfaced, a chilling testament to the depths of human cruelty. Yet, despite the sheer brutality of the conflict, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not visited Manipur even once. His continued silence and lack of intervention have not only raised questions about the central government’s priorities but have also laid bare the deeper fractures within India’s democracy.
Any responsible administration would have treated Manipur’s crisis as a national emergency, but instead, the state has been left to suffer in isolation. With Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation and the imposition of President’s Rule, the Indian government has finally been forced to acknowledge the severity of the situation. However, the fundamental question remains, whether this is an effort to restore peace or merely a political move to salvage the administration’s own credibility.
Since 2023, Manipur has been spiraling into chaos, with the conflict between the mostly Hindu Meitei community and the predominantly Christian Kuki-Zo community turning into an all-out ethnic war. What began as a dispute over the Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe status escalated into widespread violence, leaving more than 260 people dead and over 60,000 displaced. Villages have been burned, businesses looted, and places of worship desecrated. Reports of sexual violence against Kuki women by Meitei mobs have emerged, further highlighting the sheer scale of brutality in the state.
Despite these horrors, the Indian government’s response has been woefully inadequate. The security forces have failed to contain the violence, and political efforts to bring the warring communities to the table have been nearly nonexistent. Prime Minister Modi’s continued silence, despite repeated appeals for intervention, has deepened frustration among affected communities. Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s brief visit to Manipur in 2023 did little to restore normalcy. Rather than taking decisive action to broker peace, the government’s reluctance suggests a political calculation, perhaps a fear of upsetting electoral equations in the region.
The crisis in Manipur is not just a regional issue; it is part of a larger, more dangerous global trend. Around the world, right-wing governments have increasingly embraced identity politics, often at the expense of minority communities. In India, the ruling party’s approach has emboldened majoritarian groups, leading to violent clashes and systemic marginalization of ethnic and religious minorities. Manipur has now become a case study of how divisive politics can lead to a humanitarian disaster.
However, this is not merely a battle between right-wing and left-wing ideologies. The Manipur conflict is deeply rooted in historical grievances, land disputes, and political marginalization. The demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the Meiteis has long been a point of contention, as it would grant them privileges currently enjoyed by tribal communities like the Kukis. Meanwhile, the Kuki-Zo community has witnessed forced evictions from forest lands, fueling their sense of insecurity and deepening ethnic tensions. These conflicts predate India’s current right-wing government, stretching back to colonial-era policies and post-independence governance failures. However, under the present leadership, ethnic polarization has only worsened, and the state’s divisions have been further inflamed.
The situation has been exacerbated by the heavy militarization of the region. Armed groups, both from the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, have engaged in violent clashes, leading to a breakdown of law and order. The police and paramilitary forces have been accused of bias, with reports suggesting that weapons looted from government armories have been used in attacks against the Kuki community. The Indian Army, though deployed in the state, remains unable to fully control the situation, as its mandate is limited. Without strong political will and a clear roadmap for reconciliation, military intervention alone is unlikely to bring lasting peace.
With President’s Rule now imposed, the Indian government has taken full control of Manipur’s administration. But the real question is whether this signals a genuine effort to bring peace or simply a tactical move to deflect criticism. Restoring stability in the region will require more than just military presence; it demands a strong political commitment to rebuilding trust between the communities. A peace dialogue that includes representatives from both the Meitei and Kuki communities is essential, as is ensuring justice for the victims of violence, particularly those affected by sexual crimes and displacement. The role of the state and central government in mishandling the crisis must also be investigated to ensure accountability.
However, achieving these goals under a government that has benefited from communal polarization remains highly uncertain. The path to peace lies in political compromise, dialogue, and a genuine commitment to inclusivity. Manipur, once known as the “Jewel of India,” is now a bleeding wound, caught between political apathy, ethnic strife, and state failure. The world watches, but the question remains: Will Manipur finally see peace, or will it continue to be a forgotten casualty of India’s deepening divisions?