Curbs under Section 163 of BNSS imposed in Churachandpur as Hmar and Zomi communities renew hostilities; Kuki-Zo MLAs call for peace
Fresh clashes between the Hmar and Zomi communities in Manipur’s restive Churachandpur district, hours after a peace settlement between their apex bodies, left a 53-year-old person dead, and led to a shutdown call on Wednesday (March 19, 2025).
Officials said the violence broke out when the Hmars opposed a Zomi group’s hoisting of their community flag on the evening of March 18. The clashes that ensued killed Lalropui Pakhumate on the outskirts of Churachandpur town.
On March 17, the Hmar Inpui and the Zomi Council agreed to work together for peace after the assault on a Hmar leader on the night of March 16 triggered clashes between people from the two communities. The district authorities imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita after the incident.
The district’s Deputy Commissioner, Dharun Kumar S. on Wednesday (March 19, 2025) issued an appeal — his second in three days — to the people for calm. Six Kuki-Zo MLAs issued a similar appeal.
“We urge our community leaders and civil society organisations to continue to work hard to maintain peace and tranquillity. We urge the State government, particularly the district administration, to take up all requisite measures for restoration and maintenance of law and order and peace and harmony,” they said in a joint statement.
Organisations such as the Kuki Inpi, Hmar Women Association, and Zomi Mothers’ Association condemned all forms of violence, including hate speech and destruction of property, while pledging to work towards non-violence.
However, the Zomi Students’ Federation declared an “indefinite emergency shutdown” in Churachandpur on Wednesday (March 19, 2025). It said the shutdown became necessary given the volatile situation.
Churachandpur town is dominated by the Zomis while Hmars primarily live on the outskirts.
Hospital affected
The prevailing tension made authorities shift some Kuki-Zo people, displaced during the ethnic violence with Meiteis in 2023, from the New Bazaar relief camp in Churachandpur town to another relief camp at Tuibong in the district.
The situation got to the District Hospital in Churachandpur, too. Tinglonlei Thangluai, its Medical Superintendent, said a mob barged into the hospital around 9 p.m. on March 18 and intimidated the staff.
“...this unhealthy atmosphere of mistrust has prevented many of them from carrying out their normal duty from today. As a consequence, all operations were cancelled today due to a lack of OT (operation theatre) staff and technicians. The hospital wards and OPDs suffer the same,” the Medical Superintendent said in a statement.
Customary law
Security forces conducted flag marches in and around Churachandpur, asking people to remain indoors to help restore peace and normalcy.
The unrest arising out of the assault on Richard Hmar, a member of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum on Sunday (March 16, 2025), was expected to have been nipped in the bud when the Hmar Inpui and the Zomi Council signed the agreement on Tuesday (March 18, 2025) to end hostilities. The two organisations also resolved to settle the assault issue through tribal customary laws.
Accordingly, the attacker’s family agreed to pay ₹50,000 to the kin of Richard Hmar to organise a traditional and customary peace feast. The two sides also agreed that the attacker’s family would pay ₹2 lakh for the Hmar leader’s treatment and provide more money if needed.
More than 250 people have been killed and 60,000 rendered homeless in Manipur since the ethnic conflict between the non-tribal Meiteis and Kuki-Zos broke out in May 2023. Hmars and Zomis are considered constituents of the Kuki-Zo tribal group.
President’s Rule was imposed in the State and the 60-member Assembly was put in suspended animation after Nongthombam Biren Singh resigned as the Chief Minister on February 13.