Fresh ethnic conflict has erupted in India’s remote eastern state of Manipur. This region is experiencing deadly ambushes, abductions, and protest marches. Violence had already become a routine occurrence here.

In recent weeks, fighting has escalated between the Meitei and Kuki communities. This conflict now involves a third ethnic group, the Nagas. The Kukis have clashed with the Nagas over residence rights and territorial control in Manipur’s hills. Over a dozen people have died, including three Kuki church leaders who were ambushed and killed on May 13. Several individuals have been kidnapped.

This recent violence is the worst since May 2023, when clashes between Kukis and Meiteis resulted in hundreds of deaths. India’s government responded by deploying paramilitary troops to suppress the unrest. They divided the state into disjointed parts.

The Meitei people mainly inhabit Imphal, Manipur’s capital, and its surrounding plains. They are in conflict with the Kuki people, who reside primarily in the hills. Both groups have established secure areas behind battle lines, displacing tens of thousands. Each side frequently blames the other for renewed violence.