The incident unfolded before dawn in the volatile border area between the Meitei-dominated Imphal West district and Kuki-Zo-dominated Kangpokpi district. 

An associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School of Social Sciences, Akoijam asserted that as long as the two communities continue to be citizens of the country, they will have to live and work together.

Elections for two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur will be held on April 19 and 26. While Inner Manipur and some segments of Outer Manipur will vote in the first phase, the remaining segments of Outer Manipur will go to polls on April 26.

According to officials in the state government, it is not possible to extend the vote facility to those outside the state.

This decision follows a consensus reached by the Young Kuki, a group representing Kuki youths, along with Kuki volunteers and the Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) Presidential Council. 

ITLF urges Kuki-Zo community to vote but advises against contesting the Outer Manipur MP seat, citing community challenges.

According to a Mizoram election official, discussions are underway among Election Commission officials to facilitate voting for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from Manipur, but no written order has been issued yet to allow them to vote from Mizoram.

The student body’s diktat follows Manipur CM N Biren Singh’s recent statement that his government will “identify and deport” anyone who entered the state and settled there after 1961.

The anger escalated, leading to stone-pelting and ultimately, a clash with security forces. Tear gas and gunfire were used to disperse the mob, resulting in casualties and injuries.