The violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, in Manipur originated in Churachandpur and should not be attributed solely to the Meitei community and the then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The issue derives from administrative grievances and a widespread disregard for the rule of law, irrespective of whether individuals involved were illegal immigrants or not.
A major point of contention was the non-allocation of cabinet positions to the five MLAs from Churachandpur district by Biren 2.0 government, who were elected with the joint support of the Kuki and Zomi communities. This perceived exclusion, combined with the withdrawal of the Kuki National Army (KNA)/Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA)/United People’s Front (UPF) from the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement by the state government under then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on March 10, 2023, triggered widespread unrest in the district prior to 3rd May, 2023.
"Anti-Thadou" Kuki militants and civil groups, leveraging anti-Biren Singh and anti-BJP sentiments, rallied support from the Zomi and Hmar communities. This united front, rather than directly targeting the state government responsible for the SoO abrogation and the cabinet exclusion, instead directed violence towards the Meitei community.
The ongoing power struggle between the Kuki and Zomi groups in Churachandpur remains a critical factor. Internal divisions within the Paite community, especially tensions between factions opposing the ZRA, supported by former Minister V. Hangkhanlian, and a splinter group of the ZRA led by Calvin H. (former ZRA Vice-President and now KNO’s External Affairs Secretary) have further exacerbated the instability.
The instability in Churachandpur should be viewed not as a purely political or ethnic issue but as one deeply rooted in internal administrative grievances and competing power dynamics within local communities.
As of today, the Government of India, currently administering the state of Manipur under President’s Rule through Article 356, has extended the Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement with UPF and KNO including the Kuki National Army/Kuki National Organisation (KNA/KNO) and the Zomi Revolutionary Army/United People’s Front (ZRA/UPF) on September 4, 2025.
Despite the unity shown earlier to collectively push for the extension of the SoO Agreement, internal conflicts have resurfaced among the same groups, leading to continued instability. Tensions remain high in Churachandpur, and in a concerning development, areas under ZRA’s operational control, specifically the residence of Calvin, the current KNO External Affairs Secretary, have been set on fire. Churachandpur remains volatile.