The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur, which began in May 2023, created displacement, rehabilitation, and resettlement challenges across the state. In 2023, a ReliefWeb report estimated 100,000 people were displaced by the conflict, from both communities, of whom approximately 50,000 were residing in 349 relief camps across the state. In February 2025, the Union and state administrations announced measures to facilitate the rehabilitation and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The Manipur Budget for 2025–26, under the President's Rule, included a Rs 523 crore Resettlement and Rehabilitation Package for the phased rehabilitation and return of internally displaced persons. The package was structured in multiple phases, including housing construction, resettlement assistance within displaced districts, and a later phase focused on inter-district resettlement. Government authorities reported progress in resettling some displaced families and constructing housing units. However, rehabilitation and return efforts continued to face challenges arising from security concerns, mobility restrictions across conflict-affected areas, and divisions between affected communities.
Civil society organisations, humanitarian agencies, and elected representatives documented concerns regarding living conditions in relief camps, including overcrowding and inadequate access to basic services. Healthcare access has become a challenge for the Kuki-Zo community, as insecurity prevents travel to Imphal's major hospitals, requiring patients requiring specialised care to seek treatment in Assam or Nagaland. Reports also highlighted the impact of prolonged displacement on livelihoods, education, healthcare, and social support systems. A Kuki community organiser in Kangpokpi district said that while the government provides some food rations, the support is irregular and inadequate, leaving the community to rely on its own resources to meet basic needs.
In April 2025, representatives of displaced Meitei households submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Manipur and senior state officials seeking allocation of land at Phougakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district for temporary rehabilitation. The memorandum also cited the instance of the Chandel district, where its survey found that Kuki-Zo 1,528 houses were razed to the ground. The memorandum sought approximately 0.04 acres of land per displaced family, amounting to approximately 80 acres in total. The memorandum also requested livelihood support measures, including employment opportunities for internally displaced persons. On the other hand, the Kuki Zo organisations opposed the proposed Meitei IDP rehabilitation site at Phougakchao Ikhai, arguing that its location in a sensitive buffer-zone area could trigger renewed violence. Separately, six to seven Kuki civil society organisations reportedly issued statements urging Meiteis not to cross the buffer zone, warning that any entry into Kuki-Zo areas without a political settlement would be viewed as a provocation.
In December 2025, organisations representing displaced persons renewed their demands for a written and time-bound rehabilitation and resettlement plan. Protests and memorandum campaigns were organised in Imphal, raising concerns and disagreements over delays in rehabilitation measures and uncertainty regarding long-term resettlement. Many displaced people are also being looked after by churches. There are also people living in rented houses. On 12 January 2026, hundreds of IDPs and members of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) organised a protest march to Lok Bhavan in Imphal following the expiry of deadlines sought through memoranda submitted in December 2025. COCOMI Convenor Khuraijam Athouba led the protest, and participants reiterated demands for the implementation of rehabilitation commitments.
According to information provided by the Government of Manipur in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Congress leader Harashwar Goswami, 58,800 persons were displaced from Churachandpur district between 2023 and 2025. In January 2026, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel announced that over 10,000 IDPs from more than 2,200 households had been resettled and that construction of 4,000 additional housing units was underway as part of the rehabilitation process.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for rehabilitation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
8
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from detention
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Section 190[Rioting]
The Arms Act
Section 7 [Prohibition of acquisition or possession, or of manufacture or sale of prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition]
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Religious/Sacred/Cultural value, Agricultural land, Residential area
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Not Available
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Other, Land Reform Laws, Other, Constitutional Law
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Violation of standard international laws
Violation of fundamental rights
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Displacement
Lathicharge/teargas/pellets
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Rioting, plus the Arms Act for looted weapons
Reported Details of the Violation:
A group of displaced people marched towards Gwaltabi village in Manipur, demanding to return to their own homes. During which, the security forces prevented the march from proceeding beyond Yaingangpokpi, citing security reasons. A standoff escalated between protesters and security personnel, during which tear gas was used to disperse the crowd. No injuries were reported. Participants stated that the march was organised in response to delays in rehabilitation and the absence of a clear framework for return and resettlement.
Date of Violation
November 28, 2025
Location of Violation
Imphal East district (Yaingangpokpi, Dolaithabi Dam areas)
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Office of the Governor, Manipur; Office of the Chief Secretary, Manipur; Ministry of Home Affairs (Government of India)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Churachandpur Meitei United Committee (CMUC), Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Churachandpur Meitei Ethnic Clash Victim Committee, Kuki-Zo Council, Kuki Students' Organisation, Kuki Inpi Churachandpur, Kuki Chiefs' Association, Kuki Khanglai Lawmpi, Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Kuki Women Union (KWU), Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights
What was the action taken by the police?
Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
8
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from detention
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Section 190[Rioting]
The Arms Act
Section 7 [Prohibition of acquisition or possession, or of manufacture or sale of prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition]
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
