Churachandpur, Manipur – February 6, 2026 — Fresh violence broke out in Manipur's Kuki-Zo dominated Churachandpur district on Thursday as protests against the recent swearing-in of new Deputy Chief Ministers turned violent, leading to clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
The unrest stems from strong opposition within sections of the Kuki-Zo community to the participation of Kuki-Zo MLAs in the newly formed BJP-led government under Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. On Wednesday, BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen (from Kangpokpi) took oath virtually as Deputy Chief Minister from Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi, while Naga People's Front MLA Losii Dikho was sworn in as the other Deputy CM. This marked the reinstatement of a popular government in the state following the withdrawal of President's Rule.
Two other Kuki-Zo BJP MLAs, LM Khaute (Churachandpur) and Ngursanglur Sanate (Tipaimukh), attended the oath-taking ceremony in Imphal — the first such visit by Kuki-Zo legislators to the state capital since ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities erupted in May 2023.
Protesters, including youths, gathered in areas like Tuibong Bazaar in Churachandpur town, burning tyres and heaps of discarded materials while raising slogans against Nemcha Kipgen and the decision by some Kuki-Zo MLAs to join the "Meitei-led" administration. When security forces attempted to disperse the crowd, the situation escalated into stone-pelting by demonstrators, prompting a baton charge and other measures from police and paramilitary personnel.
Reports indicate several injuries among protesters — estimates range from a few to nearly a dozen — though exact figures vary across sources. The situation remains tense, with additional security forces deployed to restore order. Roads were blocked in parts of Churachandpur and nearby Kangpokpi district.
The influential Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has announced a social boycott of the Kuki-Zo MLAs involved in the government formation. Several Kuki organizations have called for a total shutdown (bandh) across Kuki-Zo hill areas on Friday to press their demands and express discontent over unresolved issues from the ongoing ethnic conflict, including demands for separate administration and justice for violence-affected communities.
The development comes amid fragile peace efforts in Manipur, where ethnic faultlines between the majority Meitei community in the valley and tribal Kuki-Zo groups in the hills have persisted since the 2023 clashes, which displaced thousands and claimed numerous lives.
Authorities have appealed for calm, and monitoring of the situation continues as the state navigates this latest political and communal challenge.
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