Manipur: Home of Tribal Kuki Leader Set on Fire After Modi's Visit

The incident took place in the Churachandpur district. The attack occurred just over 24 hours after the Prime Minister's visit to the area, which has been the scene of sectarian violence. The target was the home of Khenthang Calvin, a member of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), which signed a ceasefire agreement with Delhi. A second attack (unsuccessful) targeted the residence of Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC).

Delhi (AsiaNews) – Just hours before the controversial visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Manipur — a region in northeastern India that was the scene of sectarian violence in 2023 between the mostly Christian Kuki tribes and the predominantly Hindu Meitei — a new attack has further fueled tensions. On the night of September 14, the house of a Kuki leader in Churachandpur district was set on fire, while the echoes of Modi's visit to the local BJP-led government headquarters the day before were still fresh. According to opposition movements, his visit came shamefully late and failed to ease the trail of blood left by the ethnic-religious clashes that erupted in May 2023 and have periodically reignited since, leaving nearly 300 dead.

Police stated that the residence belonged to Khenthang Calvin, leader of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), a group that signed a ceasefire agreement with Delhi under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact. The house, located in Dorkas Veng, was completely destroyed by the fire.

In another incident, the same mob reportedly attempted to torch the residence of Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for both the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF). Local residents intervened in time, preventing the house from being set ablaze. "I don't understand the reason behind these incidents," Vualzong said in an interview shortly after the attempted attack. "It’s not the first time — people with bad intentions have tried to target me before. Some have always opposed my involvement with the KZC and the ITLF, though only they know why.”

The KNO, for its part, is a signatory to the Suspension of Operations pact with central authorities. Additionally, on September 4, two major Kuki-Zo groups signed the SoO agreement under renegotiated terms, agreeing to: maintain Manipur’s territorial integrity; relocate designated camps away from vulnerable areas; and work toward a long-term solution for peace and stability in the state. The signing of the SoO pact with both the KNO and the United People’s Front is expected to positively impact peace efforts in what experts and officials describe as a politically and socially "unstable" region.

Separately, the Kuki-Zo Council, a civil society group, had initially announced the reopening of National Highway-2 (NH-2), which runs through Manipur, to allow the free movement of commuters and essential goods. However, yesterday, the KZC clarified that it had not officially declared the reopening of NH-2, and that “no free movement along this route” had been permitted.

In a statement, the council explained that “our request was only addressed to the people of Kangpokpi district to cooperate with security forces, as directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, in maintaining commuter safety along NH-2.” But these words failed to defuse the controversy. The KZC described the government’s statement as having been “misunderstood” and as causing “unnecessary confusion.” “Since no resolution or agreement has yet been reached regarding the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities,” the Council warned, “neither side should cross into each other’s areas under any circumstances.”

Emphasizing that Kuki-Zo areas must be respected at all costs, the Council concluded by stating that “any violation will only lead to serious consequences and further deterioration of peace and security” in the region. Authorities in Churachandpur have yet to determine the motive behind the attacks, but the events underscore the fragile security situation in Manipur, where **ethnic tensions and militant activity** have long shaped local politics and inter-community relations.