Manipur -violence was not spontaneous, but planned, ethnically oriented and facilitated by state errors: report

Apart from historical factors such as ethnic divisions, socio-political marginalisation and land disputes, what led to escalation of feelings of mistrust and enmity between the warring Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities were the systematic hate campaign played out through digital media and statements made by the political leadership In The Prelude to the Conflict, Said Independent People’s Tribunal’s Report on the On the On the On the On the On the Ons Ethnic Conflict in Manipur, which was released in Delhi on Wednesday (August 20, 2025).

The report also emphasized that the violence was not spontaneous, but planned, ethnically oriented and facilitated by state errors.

The tribunal, compiled by the Volksbond of Civil Liberties (Pucl) in 2024, was chaired by Kurian Joseph, former judge, Hoogschechtshof, also had members who were former High Court judges, former-IS-Officers, former is-officers, lawyers, authors, among others actors. In his report of 694 pages, the jury emphasized that more than 60,000 displaced persons are still in Kampen in Manipur without an end in sight.

Supreme Court

The tribunal said that the guideline of the Supreme Court of Manipur High Court, the status of the planned tribe for Meitis, recommended as a vital trigger, as it was observed by the tribal groups, including the Kuki-Zo groups and the Nagas, as a threat to their constitutional protections. This in turn led to protests in all tribal districts, which led to a large protest program on 3 May 2023 in all the Heerveld districts. While the protests generally ended peacefully, violence broke out in a few places, which soon flooded the whole state.

Another fighting story was the involvement of Kuki’s in population cultivation, in accordance with the then ‘war on drugs’ of the then minister President Biren Singh, who translated into the popular propaganda against Kukis, the report said.

Na het ontmoeten van mensen uit alle lagen van het leven, waaronder de overlevenden en slachtoffers in verschillende districten van Manipur, waaronder Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, Kangpokpi, Senapati gevolgd door zittingen in Delhi, de Tribunal namen de Testimes van de Survivors op, die het heden een Stark Picture van de Staatsfoto From the state photo of the state photo of the State Attitutions to the protection of the state investigation of the Survivors, who recorded the present of the state photo of the state photo of the state investigation of the survivors, which has recorded the survival of the survivores, a Stark Picture of the State. Those, so they have to take care of themselves.

The tribunal also notes that the central government failure to fulfill its constitutional responsibility to ensure that Manipur remained under the regime of both the rule of law and the Constitution. The overwhelming evidence that was placed before the tribunal explains the horrible and systemic nature of violence, the role of the radical groups, the failure of state institutions and the immense humanitarian Fallout that followed.

The report also attributed an important role to the media in the conflict, which actively formed public perception and escalated tensions. While the printed media were part -time and a research rigor, digital channels and social media were used to distribute non -rewarded and inflammatory content.

From bad arrangements in camps to gloomy health care, the report of the Tribunal painted a bad picture of relief and rehabilitation in due to violence Hit Manipur.

The tribunal suggested that the Indian judiciary, the parliament and civil society should come forward to reclaim their duty and to ensure that Manipur does not become a template for future impunity. It also demanded a special research team (SIT) in the conflict and emphasized that permanent peace in Manipur requires structural changes, community dialogue, legal responsibility and sustainable moral leadership.