Wed Mar 19 11:49:58 UTC 2025: ## Ethnic Clashes in Manipur Leave One Dead, Several Injured
**Imphal, Manipur –** A 53-year-old man was killed and several others injured in renewed ethnic clashes between the Hmar and Zomi tribes in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, police reported Wednesday. The violence, which erupted Tuesday night, occurred just hours after representatives from both tribes reached a peace agreement following earlier clashes sparked by a Sunday road rage incident involving a Hmar leader.
The latest outbreak began after an attempt to remove the flag of a Zomi armed group. Before security forces could intervene, mobs from both sides engaged in a gunfight and stone-throwing. Police deployed tear gas and fired warning shots to disperse the crowds, but faced challenges in controlling the violence, which included property damage. The cause of the 53-year-old victim’s death, Lalropui Pakhumate, is still under investigation.
Despite a previous agreement brokered by tribal elders to end the conflict, spurred by the assault of Hmar tribal leader Richard Hmar, the situation escalated significantly. Hundreds of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel have since been deployed and conducted flag marches in affected areas. The Churachandpur District Magistrate, Dharun Kumar S, has issued multiple appeals for peace, urging both sides to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
Six MLAs from the region, along with church and tribal leaders, have also issued joint statements calling for peace and reconciliation. A joint peace committee is to be established to monitor the situation and prevent future conflicts. The incident highlights the fragility of peace in the region and the ongoing tensions between the Hmar and Zomi communities.
First Piper 