Separatist demands grow as Manipur’s Kuki-Zo community seeks autonomy

Separatist sentiment is gaining renewed momentum in the Indian state of Manipur, where the Kuki-Zo community has formally called for the establishment of a separate administrative structure, citing prolonged violence, discrimination and state repression.

According to the Indian publication Akhrul Times, leaders of the Kuki tribes have described an independent administrative arrangement as the only viable solution to the crisis facing their community. 

The demand follows months of unrest, forced displacement and widespread destruction of property in the region.

The Kuki-Zo community has accused the Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of enabling Hindutva-driven violence that has disproportionately affected religious and ethnic minorities. 

Community representatives say years of alleged injustice and marginalisation have made coexistence with the BJP-backed Hindu Meitei community untenable.

Support for the demand has also come from pro-freedom groups, including the Kuki National Organisation and the United People’s Front, which have publicly endorsed the call for separation.

Leaders argue that repeated appeals for protection and political redress have failed to yield meaningful results.

The situation in Manipur has remained volatile since ethnic clashes erupted in May 2023.

 According to the BBC, the violence has claimed thousands of lives and displaced large segments of the population, raising serious concerns about human rights and internal stability in the region.

Analysts warn that continued unrest and heavy-handed policies could further strengthen separatist movements not only in Manipur but across other minority regions of India, where resistance to Hindutva rule has become increasingly organised and difficult to contain.

Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor