Finding Pathways to Peace in a Fractured Manipur

ON a quiet Saturday in Lamka, a small glimmer of hope emerged from a deeply personal place of mourning. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh took a historic step by attending the funeral of former legislator Vungzagin Valte, a man who rose from a very humble background through sheer hard work and determination. Flying in by helicopter due to boycotts from several Kuki civil society organisations, he became the first Chief Minister to visit Churachandpur district since the painful ethnic violence erupted in May 2023. Standing at his late friend’s residence in Dorcas Veng, the Chief Minister shared his deepest personal regrets over the brutal 2023 attack on Valte, openly wishing he had been there to protect him. More importantly, he reminded reporters that dialogue is the only path left to restore stability, beautifully noting that a simple smile could help pave the way for peace. For a brief moment, this human gesture felt like a genuine bridge-building effort, offering a faint promise of healing and a better, more secure solution for the Kuki-Zo community.

Yet, the fragile hope of Saturday was brutally shattered over the next forty-eight hours, proving how steep the climb to normalcy remains. On Sunday evening, a terrifying bomb and gun attack tore through the peaceful village of Thingkhongjang in Kangpokpi district. Perpetrated by armed militants, the unprovoked assault targeted civilian homes and a church service, leaving an eight-year-old girl and a 56-year-old mother critically injured. This horrific event unfolded right under the watch of a nearby security post, sparking deep outrage over local protection failures and a painful, frustrating silence from national mainstream media. The cycle of bloodshed escalated even further on Monday in Ukhrul, where a deadly ambush by NSCN-IM militants claimed the lives of two brave Assam Rifles soldiers. These back-to-back atrocities against innocent worshippers and national protectors are a grim reminder of how quickly violence can erase small steps toward harmony, deepening the trauma of local communities left feeling entirely exposed.

These dark events demand immediate, uncompromising action from both the state and central governments. We must unequivocally condemn the targeting of innocent civilians in their places of worship and the deadly assaults on our security forces. True peace cannot be built on empty political promises or administrative silence while armed groups run amok across the hills. The government must now demonstrate an iron will to flush out all militant groups, whether Naga or Meitei, who are actively waging war against India and destabilizing the region. True security will only return when local authorities are held strictly accountable and communities feel genuinely safe without having to guard their own villages. If we are to find a real pathway to peace, leadership must move beyond symbolic visits and enforce the absolute rule of law, ensuring justice for the injured and lasting safety for every citizen.

~ Zogam Today | Editorial | 07.07.2026