In multi-ethnic Manipur, the divide between communities continues to grow and spill over into violence. With people still trying to rebuild lives upended by two years of mindless hostility that began on May 3, 2023, another senseless killing has led to fresh tension. The faultlines between the hills, dominated by the tribes, and the Valley, home to the Meiteis, have sharpened. That has become almost impossible now, and the killing of a Meitei in a Kuki-dominated area will only add to the mistrust. Things soon got out of control after the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo tribes clashed.

Source: The Hindu January 23, 2026 19:43 UTC