India’s northeastern state of Manipur has been drawn into fresh violence, unsettling residents and raising concerns that a fragile calm built over recent months is collapsing. The unrest, which had simmered for nearly three years, began to intensify again after April 7 following a deadly attack on civilians.

With the new violence, around 60,000 Nepali-speaking people in Manipur are living in constant fear and uncertainty.

According to officials in Bishnupur district, a suspected armed group hurled a bomb at a house in the Thronlaobi area of Moirang at around 1 pm. A five-year-old boy and a six-month-old girl were killed instantly while they slept. Their mother was seriously injured. The incident site lies along a sensitive boundary between the Meitei-dominated valley and the Kuki-majority Churachandpur district, an area long considered volatile.

The killing of the children triggered immediate outrage. The locals hit the streets in protest, demanding justice and stronger security measures. Reuters, quoting Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, reported that two more civilians were killed later the same day when security forces opened fire to disperse demonstrators. Authorities said the use of force was necessary to control the crowd, but the deaths further flared up tensions.

Unverified rumours about armed groups moving through nearby areas spread rapidly on social media, intensifying fear and anger. Locals said the lack of clear information created panic.

On April 14, violent clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel, pushing the administration to clamp a curfew. But the locals continued demonstrations despite the curfew order. Protesters damaged vehicles, set fire to security forces’ vehicles and even attempted to detain personnel. Security agencies said tear gas canisters had to be used and additional forces deployed to contain the situation.

More than 20 protesters were injured in the clashes and several were arrested. At least two police vehicles were set ablaze. In response, curfew orders have been enforced across Bishnupur, Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Kakching districts. Internet and data services, including VPNs, have been suspended for an additional 48 hours.

The government has defended the restrictions, saying misinformation circulating on social media has played a key role in fuelling unrest. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Friday appealed for calm, urging all sides to maintain social harmony. “We must think of future generations, as violence has a serious impact on children,” he said in a public message.

Manipur has long been regarded as one of India’s most sensitive regions, with tensions rooted in decades of mistrust and division. Analysts say the current conflict is not the result of a single incident but a culmination of long-standing grievances. The latest phase of unrest can be traced to April 2023, when the High Court asked the government to consider including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

The proposal was strongly opposed by the Kuki and Naga communities living in the hill regions, who feared it would threaten their land rights and access to resources. Protests and counter-protests on May 3, 2023, soon turned violent, triggering widespread ethnic clashes between the valley-based Meiteis and hill-based tribal groups.

Government figures show that by November 2024, around 258 people had been killed in the violence. More than 60,000 people were displaced, nearly 1,000 injured and thousands of homes destroyed. Religious structures, including temples and churches, were also targeted, deepening communal divisions.

To understand the roots of the conflict, observers often point to history. There was a time when Meitei and Kuki communities maintained cordial relations, with Kuki groups acting as frontier defenders. However, colonial-era policies introduced by the British separated communities geographically, placing Meiteis in the Imphal Valley and tribal groups in the surrounding hills. Analysts say this division laid the foundation for present tensions.

Land laws have further reinforced inequality. Meiteis are restricted from purchasing land in hill areas, while Kuki and Naga groups face fewer barriers in the valley. Political representation has also created imbalance. In the 60-member state assembly, Meiteis hold a majority of seats but do not enjoy reservation benefits, while tribal communities receive reservations but have limited territorial reach.

The conflict has increasingly taken on a religious dimension. The Meitei community is largely Hindu, while Kuki and Naga groups are predominantly Christian. This has added another layer of mistrust, with religious identity now overlapping with ethnic divisions.

Political efforts to restore peace have so far failed to yield lasting results. The federal government imposed President’s rule on February 13, 2025, after the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. It was lifted on February 4, 2026, following the formation of a new government led by Yumnam Khemchand Singh. However, stability remains elusive.

Around 60,000 Nepali-speaking (Gorkha) people live in Manipur. They have not taken a side in the conflict but do not feel fully safe.

Shiv Kumar Basnet, a former chief of Kanglatumbi panchayat, said more than 10,000 Nepali speaking people have been displaced from Manipur over a decade. “Those who remain here live in constant fear. We are caught in a conflict that is not ours,” he said.

Social worker Shyam Kumar Chhettri said several Nepali settlements in areas such as Kalapahar, Irang and Purao Valley are emptying out gradually. “Only about 20 percent Nepali speaking people remain in these villages,” said Chhetri.

Community members report cases of harassment, extortions and disruption to the livelihoods of Nepali speaking community. In February, dozens of shops run by Nepali speakers were burned.

“Right now, no one in Manipur feels safe. We do not know what might happen next,” said local activist Arjun Jogi. According to him, tensions are now emerging between Naga and Kuki groups, who were seen to be supportive of each other earlier. A Kuki man was reported killed in a Naga village on Saturday, raising fears of further escalation.

For Nepali speaking people like Kamala Ghatani, the renewed violence has once again disrupted daily life. “We have not been able to run our businesses with peace for three years. Now, with fresh incidents, fear has returned. The situation could worsen again,” she said.