Manipur Unrest Returns as Hospital Protests Spark Tensions

Manipur witnessed another major flashpoint this week after three injured Kuki youths were admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal. The youths were reportedly injured during an armed attack near Leilon Vaiphei and Konsakhul villages in Kangpokpi district on June 15.

Soon after they were brought to the hospital, hundreds of protesters gathered outside RIMS demanding that the injured men not be treated in Imphal. As tensions escalated, security forces fired tear gas shells and used force to disperse the crowd. The situation became so volatile that authorities shifted the three injured youths to Churachandpur Medical College under heavy security shortly after midnight on June 17. Reports indicate that the protest reflected the deep mistrust and hostility that continues to exist between communities in the state.

Kuki organisations have alleged that the three youths were injured when armed attackers targeted a Kuki village in Kangpokpi district. Some groups have accused Naga extremist elements of carrying out the attack, while security agencies are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A State Still Haunted by Violence

The latest incident comes amid a fresh wave of unrest in Manipur. Just days earlier, violence in Kamjong district left two Kuki church leaders dead and several houses and a church destroyed. The attack reignited fears that the state may be witnessing a renewed phase of ethnic violence after months of relative calm.

At the same time, security forces have intensified operations across the state. According to Manipur Police, nearly 70% of the weapons looted during the ethnic violence have been recovered, but thousands of arms and rounds of ammunition remain unaccounted for.

How Did the Manipur Conflict Begin?

The roots of the current conflict go back to long-standing tensions among Manipur's three major communities -the Meiteis, Kukis, and Nagas. However, the immediate trigger came in 2023 when the Meitei community demanded Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

On April 14, 2023, the Manipur High Court directed the state government to consider the Meitei demand for ST status. Tribal groups, particularly the Kukis, strongly opposed the move, fearing that it would allow the valley-dominant Meitei community greater access to tribal lands and constitutional protections meant for indigenous hill tribes.

On May 3, 2023, tribal organisations organised a "Tribal Solidarity March" against the demand. Clashes broke out soon after, rapidly spreading across the state and turning into one of the worst episodes of ethnic violence in India's recent history.

The Scale of the Crisis

What began as protests soon transformed into an armed ethnic conflict. Villages were burnt, homes were destroyed, and communities became geographically segregated.

According to official and independent estimates, more than 250 people have been killed and around 60,000 people displaced since the violence began in 2023. Thousands of weapons were looted from police armouries, allowing armed groups on both sides to strengthen their positions. Buffer zones now separate many Meitei-dominated valley areas from Kuki-dominated hill districts.

Why Peace Remains Elusive

Experts argue that the Manipur conflict is no longer only about ST status. It has evolved into a broader struggle involving ethnic identity, land rights, political representation, security concerns, migration issues, and competing historical narratives.

The protests outside RIMS this week demonstrate how deeply polarised society remains. Even the medical treatment of injured individuals has become a source of confrontation, reflecting the extent to which trust between communities has collapsed.

The Road Ahead

While the central government and security agencies continue efforts to restore normalcy, the events of June 2026 show that Manipur's wounds remain far from healed. Without sustained dialogue, accountability for past violence, and a political settlement acceptable to all communities, the state is likely to remain vulnerable to recurring outbreaks of unrest.

The latest hospital protests are not just an isolated incident, they are a reminder that the conflict which erupted in 2023 continues to shape everyday life in Manipur, and that lasting peace remains one of India's most difficult governance challenges.