Peace in Manipur Still Fragile, A Test for the New Chief Minister
The fragile nature of peace that prevails in the multi-ethnic Manipuri society has come to be demonstrated once again with the untoward incidents in the Naga-majority Ukhrul district in the last few days. The latest is the decision of the authorities to evacuate and transfer 51 students from the Kuki tribal community from the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya there to Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district following clashes between the two communities.
The apparent cause of violence is traced to a drunken brawl between two groups on February 7. If such incidents can lead to violence, which has already resulted in razing or burning down about 30 residential places, then every village in India could face it every single day, but that is not the case. There must be deeper, unresolved issues that are waiting for just solutions.
The Deeper Roots
A drunken brawl does not burn down thirty homes. A drunken brawl does not require the evacuation of schoolchildren from their hostels. A drunken brawl does not reveal the fault lines of a society. What we are seeing in Ukhrul is not a spontaneous eruption of violence but a symptom of deeper, unresolved tensions that have been simmering beneath the surface.
Most Indian villages are made of people with vastly different identities but they have chosen to trust humanity and found common ground to work on and move forward. They also trust the rule of law and have created mechanisms to enforce it. A fair-minded administration which commands the confidence of the people of all groups can bring a violent situation under control in a few hours.
Manipur, unfortunately, has deviated from this path for the last three years when the N. Biren Singh administration openly sided with the majority Meitei community as they took on the Kuki tribal community. It has practically destroyed people’s trust in the administration.
When the state ceases to be neutral, when it becomes a party to conflict rather than an arbiter, the consequences are predictable. The group that feels targeted loses faith in the system. The group that feels favoured becomes emboldened. Tensions escalate. Violence becomes more likely. And the capacity of the state to intervene effectively diminishes.
The New Chief Minister
His replacement, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, however, has a reputation of being fair-minded and has demonstrated the will to walk the extra mile to bring peace to a strife-torn state. The CM who assumed power only on February 4 has a tough task to perform, should he want to put his state back on the rails of peace and progress.
The challenges are immense. Trust in the administration has been eroded over three years of perceived bias. Communities are polarised. The memories of violence are fresh. And the underlying issues that fuelled the conflict remain unresolved.
The use of the law and its tools to suppress violence and punish those who are behind it is one task; an honest attempt to understand the root cause of tension that has prevailed there and efforts to solve them is the next. Uneasy peace is no recipe for progress, but justice and fairness are.
The Two Tasks
The new Chief Minister faces two distinct but related tasks. The first is immediate: restoring order, preventing further violence, and ensuring that those responsible for crimes are held accountable. This requires the impartial application of the law, without fear or favour. It requires police and administration that are seen as fair by all communities.
The second task is long-term: addressing the root causes of conflict. This requires dialogue, reconciliation, and a willingness to listen to grievances from all sides. It requires understanding why tensions exist and what would be required to resolve them. It requires building institutions that all communities can trust.
Neither task is easy. The first requires courage and decisiveness. The second requires patience and wisdom. Both require legitimacy—the belief among all communities that the state is acting in good faith and in the interest of all.
The Evacuation of Students
The evacuation of 51 Kuki students from a Navodaya Vidyalaya in Ukhrul to Kangpokpi is a stark reminder of how deep the divisions have become. These were children, pursuing their education, living in hostels far from home. They became targets not because of anything they had done, but because of who they are.
No child should have to be evacuated from their school because of their identity. No parent should have to fear for their child’s safety while they are pursuing an education. No society can call itself just when such things happen.
The decision to evacuate was undoubtedly taken with the best intentions—to protect the students from harm. But it is also a recognition that the state cannot guarantee their safety where they are. That is a failure of governance that must be addressed.
The Way Forward
Manipur’s path to lasting peace will not be easy. The wounds are deep, and the trust that has been broken will take time to rebuild. But it is not impossible. Other societies have emerged from similar conflicts. India itself has seen regions torn by violence return to peace.
What is required is leadership that is fair, consistent, and committed to the well-being of all communities. Leadership that does not take sides, that listens to grievances, that enforces the law impartially. Leadership that understands that peace is not just the absence of violence but the presence of justice.
The new Chief Minister has an opportunity to provide such leadership. His reputation for fairness is a valuable asset. But reputation alone is not enough. It must be backed by action, by decisions, by a consistent record of treating all communities equally.
Conclusion: Justice and Fairness
Uneasy peace is no recipe for progress, but justice and fairness are. Manipur has seen too much violence, too much suffering, too much division. It is time for healing. It is time for reconciliation. It is time for a peace that is more than just the absence of conflict.
The evacuation of students from Ukhrul is a reminder of how far there is to go. But it is also a reminder of why the journey is necessary. No child should have to be moved from their school because of their identity. No community should have to live in fear. No state should accept such conditions as normal.
The new Chief Minister has a historic opportunity. He can be the leader who brings peace to Manipur. But he will need the support of all communities, the cooperation of the central government, and the courage to do what is right, not what is easy. The path is difficult, but the destination is worth the journey.
Q&A: Unpacking the Manipur Crisis
Q1: What triggered the recent violence in Ukhrul district?
The apparent trigger was a drunken brawl between two groups on February 7. However, such a minor incident would not lead to the burning of 30 residential places and the evacuation of 51 Kuki students from a Navodaya Vidyalaya unless deeper, unresolved issues were simmering beneath the surface. The violence is a symptom of long-standing ethnic tensions that have been exacerbated by perceived administrative bias.
Q2: How has the administration’s role changed in recent years?
For the last three years, the previous administration under N. Biren Singh was perceived as openly siding with the majority Meitei community against the Kuki tribal community. This destroyed people’s trust in the administration’s impartiality. When the state ceases to be a neutral arbiter and becomes a party to conflict, tensions escalate, and the capacity to intervene effectively diminishes.
Q3: Who is the new Chief Minister, and what is his reputation?
Yumnam Khemchand Singh assumed office on February 4, 2026. He has a reputation for being fair-minded and has demonstrated the will to go the extra mile to bring peace to the strife-torn state. His challenge is to rebuild trust in the administration after three years of perceived bias and to address both immediate security concerns and long-term root causes of conflict.
Q4: What does the evacuation of Kuki students from Ukhrul signify?
Fifty-one Kuki students were evacuated from a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Ukhrul to Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district for their safety. This is a stark reminder of how deep divisions have become—children cannot safely attend school because of their identity. While the decision was made to protect them, it also represents a failure of governance to guarantee safety for all citizens regardless of community.
Q5: What are the two tasks facing the new Chief Minister?
The first task is immediate: restoring order, preventing further violence, and ensuring those responsible for crimes are held accountable through impartial application of the law. The second is long-term: addressing root causes through dialogue, reconciliation, and understanding grievances from all sides. Uneasy peace is not enough; lasting peace requires justice and fairness. The new CM has a historic opportunity to provide such leadership.
