Life comes to a standstill in Manipur as COCOMI, KSO, and ZSF observe shutdown to mark two years since the deadly ethnic clashes began in May 2023.
Normal life came to a standstill across Manipur on Saturday as several civil society groups and student organizations enforced a statewide shutdown to mark two years of the devastating ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The day-long strike, which affected both the valley and hill districts, saw shops shuttered, vehicles off the roads, and public institutions closed, even as authorities reported that the shutdown remained peaceful.
According to police officials, the strike did not witness any untoward incidents as of Saturday afternoon. Security forces from both the Centre and the state have been deployed in sensitive zones to maintain order and prevent potential flashpoints.
Manipur observes two years of violence without the Prime Minister setting foot on its soil.
The violence began on May 3, 2023 and still continues. Just two days ago, 25 people were injured in a violent clash in Tamenglong district.
More than 260 people have died. 68,000 people… pic.twitter.com/zZ1pyUGJC9
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 3, 2025
The valley region—home primarily to the Meitei community—saw the shutdown enforced by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a leading civil society body representing the Meitei population. Simultaneously, the hill districts, largely inhabited by the Kuki-Zo and Zomi tribal communities, observed the strike following calls by the Zomi Students Federation (ZSF) and the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO).
Police said that markets, banks, government and non-government offices, and educational institutions remained closed throughout the day. Except for security vehicles and a few emergency services, traffic was largely absent from both urban and rural areas.
Large crowds gathered in Imphal’s Khuman Lampak area, where the COCOMI organized a public convention to reflect on the two-year anniversary of the ethnic strife that began on May 3, 2023. Later in the evening, COCOMI planned a candlelight vigil at Kangla Nongpok Thong to honor the victims of the violence, which has claimed over 260 lives and displaced more than 70,000 people.
“We appeal to all residents to participate in the observance with a sense of unity and remembrance,” COCOMI said in a statement, urging the public to refrain from regular activities for the day to show solidarity with the victims and those still suffering.
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In parallel, Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal groups held separate observances in various locations across Manipur and other Indian cities, including Guwahati, Delhi, and Bengaluru. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a key organization representing the interests of Kuki-Zo communities, marked the day as “Separation Day,” reinforcing their demand for a separate administrative arrangement from the Meitei-majority regions.
The ethnic conflict that began two years ago erupted after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts on May 3, 2023. The march protested the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status—a move fiercely opposed by the tribal communities who feared a loss of land and autonomy. The violence spiraled quickly, leading to widespread arson, attacks on homes and places of worship, and massive internal displacement.
The conflict severely affected law and order in Manipur, prompting the Union Government to impose President’s Rule on February 13 this year—just four days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh submitted his resignation. Since then, the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly has been under suspended animation, although its constitutional term continues until 2027.
In a fresh initiative to address the long-standing communal divide, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs convened the first-ever tripartite talks on April 5 in New Delhi. The meeting brought together representatives from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, along with central officials. While the dialogue marked a significant step forward, the path to lasting peace remains fraught with deep-rooted mistrust and unresolved grievances on both sides.
As Manipur completes two painful years since the outbreak of violence, calls for justice, dialogue, and healing echoed across the state. With the political leadership currently suspended and the administrative machinery stretched thin, civil society groups and community leaders continue to play a critical role in both peace-building and memorializing the losses endured.
While Saturday’s shutdown was observed without violence, the emotional and political divisions that spurred the conflict remain deeply entrenched, demanding long-term reconciliation efforts and strong political will at both state and national levels.
