The Crisis in Manipur: Human Rights Violations and the Urgent Need for Global Action against Kuki Militant Terrorism

By: MC Meetei
In the continuing state of Manipur, an intense and ongoing humanitarian crisis has taken hold, as violent attacks attributed to Kuki militant groups continue to devastate communities. Since May 3, 2023, civilians, particularly those from the Meitei community, have faced targeted violence, including abductions, extrajudicial killings, torture, rape and forced displacement. These acts have torn through the social fabric of Manipur, leaving behind displaced families, destroyed homes, and a profound sense of fear and loss. The crisis in Manipur has been marked by grave human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law, drawing sharp comparisons to other conflicts where civilians have become the primary targets of terror.
On May 3, 2023, coordinated attacks by Kuki militants erupted across Manipur, targeting the Meitei community and other vulnerable groups. Entire villages were attacked, homes were burned, and civilians, including women and children, were killed or displaced and many still missing. The Meitei villages have been completely ravaged to the ground in Churachandpur. These acts, far from isolated incidents, represent a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing. They are part of an intentional strategy to instill fear, erase cultural identity, and drive entire communities out of their homes. These systematic attacks, including killings and property destruction, aimed at eradicating the Meitei people may constitute “genocide” which refers to the deliberate destruction of a particular group based on ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion. It includes actions such as killing, causing harm, and inflicting conditions aimed at annihilation.
As the crisis unfolds, human rights organisations and indigenous people’s leaders in Manipur have labeled these actions as a form of ethnic cleansing and crime against humanity. The terror tactics deployed against civilians—including abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings—are explicitly prohibited under the Geneva Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR, specifically Articles 3 and 5, safeguards the right to life, liberty, and security of person and prohibits torture and inhumane treatment. The actions of the Kuki militants thus represent flagrant violations of these principles, highlighting the urgent need for global attention and action.
International humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949, is clear about the protection of civilians during armed conflict. Under Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions, all non-combatants, including those from ethnic or religious communities, are entitled to protection from violence, inhumane treatment, and acts of terror. The actions of the Kuki militants violate this principle, as they deliberately target civilian populations based on their ethnic identity.
Moreover, as the governing power, India has a legal obligation to protect its citizens from such violence. International legal standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), obligate states to uphold the right to life and prohibit arbitrary violence against civilians. The ICCPR’s Article 6 specifically outlines that “every human being has the inherent right to life,” a right that must be protected by law. If India fails to protect its citizens from Kuki militant terrorism, the people of Manipur may invoke the “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P) norm to seek international intervention.
The situation in Manipur echoes the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where civilians have endured ongoing displacement, destruction, and deprivation. In Gaza, systematic attacks against densely populated areas, as well as the obstruction of essential humanitarian aid, have resulted in severe human suffering, drawing widespread condemnation from international organisations, including the United Nations. The UN Secretary-General and various human rights organisations have classified these acts as potential war crimes, emphasising that civilians must not be the targets of military campaigns.
Similarly, the humanitarian impact of Kuki militant terrorism in Manipur calls for comparable scrutiny. Civilians in Manipur, particularly the Meitei community, face an increasingly dangerous environment, with the militants’ tactics leading to mass displacement and deprivation. Just as the international community has called for unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, a similar appeal is necessary for Manipur, where civilians require protection and urgent assistance.
The violence in Manipur has reached an especially disturbing level with the targeting of vulnerable groups, including women, children, and the elderly. On November 11, 2024, a tragic incident saw six Meitei women and children abducted following the violent Jiribam encounter. Despite efforts from various communities, the whereabouts of these abducted individuals remain unknown, raising grave concerns for their safety. On November 13, 2024, the Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) and Youth Collective Manipur (YCM) made an urgent appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions for immediate intervention to save six civilians, including women and children, one of whom is an 8-month-old infant, who were reportedly abducted by suspected Kuki militants in Manipur, India. In their appeal, MIYC and YCM describe the worsening crisis in Manipur, beginning in May 2023, where ongoing violence has led to extrajudicial killings, abductions, and widespread displacement of civilians.
This act of abduction, particularly targeting women and children, is a clear violation of international law. The Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Geneva Conventions emphasise the obligation to protect children in times of conflict. The abduction and probable mistreatment of these individuals are acts of terror meant to dismantle the community’s sense of security, inflicting lasting psychological trauma on the population. This tactic aligns with historical patterns of ethnic cleansing, where violence against civilians is employed to destabilise and fracture communities.
The actions of Kuki militants extend beyond immediate violence. They have engaged in the destruction of cultural landmarks, the erasure of heritage sites, and deliberate acts to dismantle the communal infrastructure that binds Manipur’s communities together. As a result, displaced populations face both material loss and the erasure of their cultural identity. Such deliberate destabilisation violates Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community”. The systematic targeting of Meitei villages, cultural sites, and communal resources represents an attempt to erase a community’s identity, leaving lasting scars that go beyond physical destruction.
The response from the global community is crucial in addressing the crisis in Manipur. The United Nations and international human rights organisations have a mandate to protect civilians facing targeted violence. Just as the UN has been vocal in condemning human rights violations in Gaza, it is essential that similar attention is directed to the atrocities in Manipur.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued provisional measures orders in similar conflicts, stressing the importance of protecting civilian populations and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches those in need. It is imperative that these principles are upheld in Manipur. The UN, alongside regional organisations, must advocate for the safe passage of humanitarian aid, protect the displaced populations, and monitor the situation to prevent further human rights abuses.
To prevent further humanitarian disaster, the following actions are urgently needed:
* Global Condemnation: The international community, including the United Nations, human rights organisations, and world leaders, must publicly condemn the activities of the Kuki militants and recognise the situation in Manipur as a significant human rights violation.
* Intervention by the Indian Government: The Indian government must take immediate action to halt the ongoing violence in Manipur, allocating sufficient resources to protect vulnerable communities, restore law and order, and support displaced populations. This includes providing basic necessities and initiating rehabilitation efforts in their native villages.
* Accountability and Justice: The international community must call for investigations into the activities of Kuki militants, with an emphasis on identifying and prosecuting those responsible for acts of terror, abduction, and violence against civilians.
* Humanitarian Assistance: Humanitarian organisations must be allowed to assist affected communities, ensuring that they have access to food, medical care, and safe shelter.
* Promote Long-Term Peace and Reconciliation: International, national and state actors should engage in peace-building efforts to address underlying ethnic tensions and work toward long-term stability in Manipur.
The situation in Manipur reveals a disturbing pattern of targeted violence, abduction, and terror against the Meitei community. These acts bear the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing and align with tactics seen in other conflict zones where civilians are the primary victims. The Kuki militant perpetrated violence may be framed as ethnic cleansing and potential genocide, given the systematic targeting of civilians. Human rights must be upheld, and the perpetrators of these actions must be brought to justice.
Beyond the realm of human rights, the aggression of Kuki militant groups in Manipur is wholly motivated by the political goal of creating a Christian state – Zalen’gam, potentially spanning across Bangladesh, Myanmar, and India. This violent campaign reflects ambitions to siege control over territory, resources, and political influence, with the ultimate aim of reshaping the political and social landscape of Manipur.