Imphal: In a move that threatens to reignite ethnic strife in Manipur, Kuki civil society organisations have barred the Meitei community from accessing their holy shrine atop Thangjing Hill in Churachandpur district. The restriction comes ahead of the annual Cheirao Ching Kaba pilgrimage—a sacred Meitei tradition marking Cheiraoba, the Meitei New Year—deepening divisions in the already conflict-scarred state.
Fresh tensions have flared in Manipur after six Kuki civil society organisations, including the Kuki Students’ Organisation, issued a stern warning to the Meitei community against visiting their sacred shrine atop Thangjing Hill, located in a Kuki-dominated district. The dispute has raised fears of renewed clashes in the ethnically divided state, still recovering from last year’s violent conflict.
The annual Cheirao Ching Kaba, a traditional Meitei event involving a pilgrimage to Thangjing Hill as part of Cheiraoba (Meitei New Year) celebrations, has become the latest flashpoint. The Kuki organizations have declared that Meiteis must not cross the ‘buffer zone’—a demarcated strip separating the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley from the Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal dominated hills—until a political settlement is reached with the Indian government.
In a joint statement, the groups asserted, “Unless a constitutional solution is granted to the Kuki-Zo-Hmar community, no friendly approach into our land will be permitted.” They emphasized maintaining the status quo to prevent further escalation, warning that any violation would be “opposed tooth and nail.”
Thangjing Hill, considered sacred by Meiteis, has been a contentious site since January 2024, when a large cross was erected there, sparking protests. The state government maintains that the hill falls within the Churachandpur-Khoupum protected forest area. However, Kuki groups view it as part of their ancestral land, further complicating the dispute.
The ongoing ethnic strife, which began in May 2023, has claimed over 260 lives and displaced 60,000 people. While President’s Rule imposed in February had brought relative calm, this latest standoff threatens to undo fragile peace efforts.
The Kuki organisations have urged authorities to enforce buffer zone regulations strictly, fearing that unchecked movement could trigger violence. Meanwhile, Meitei leaders argue that the pilgrimage is a centuries-old tradition and should not be politicized.
With tensions simmering, all eyes are on the central and state governments to mediate before the situation spirals out of control. As Manipur braces for another potential flashpoint, the question remains: Will dialogue prevail, or will the hills witness another chapter of conflict?
