Sat Mar 08 18:48:00 UTC 2025: ## Manipur Protests Turn Deadly as Buses Attempt to Resume Services

**Imphal, Manipur –** One Kuki protester was killed and at least 43 others injured (27 security personnel, 16 protesters) in clashes with security forces in Manipur today, March 8th, 2025. The violence erupted as buses, escorted by security personnel, attempted to resume services between Imphal and other districts, following a central government order aimed at restoring free movement within the state, currently under President’s rule.

The clashes, primarily near Kangpokpi, approximately 45 km from Imphal, involved women protesters blocking the buses’ passage. Police reported that armed protesters fired upon security forces, prompting the use of tear gas and lathi charges to disperse the crowds. Protesters retaliated by throwing stones and damaging vehicles, setting at least one ablaze. Police maintain that they exercised “tremendous restraint” and used minimal force.

The Kuki-Zo Council (KAC) has called for an indefinite shutdown in Kuki-Zo dominated areas, vowing staunch opposition to the government’s “free movement” initiative until a political solution is reached for the Kuki-Zo community. The KAC claims that the security forces were escorting Meitei protesters, a claim the police vehemently deny as “baseless and false.”

While buses travelling to Churachandpur encountered no significant resistance, the violence highlights the deep-seated ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities. These tensions, ignited in May 2023, stem from disputes over land rights and political representation. Over 250 people have died and nearly 50,000 have been internally displaced in the ongoing conflict.

Kuki leaders and groups have demanded a separate administration before agreeing to free movement, a demand countered by Meitei organizations who question the continued restrictions on the movement of internally displaced people and the safety of national highways. The ongoing conflict, fueled by historical grievances and the demands for a separate Kuki state (“Kukiland”), continues to threaten peace and stability in Manipur.

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