Manipur’s Conflict Intensifies as Militants Stream Back from Myanmar

The volatile situation in Manipur has been exacerbated by the return of militant groups who had previously sought refuge in Myanmar and participated in its civil war. These fighters, now battle-hardened and armed with sophisticated weapons, have inflamed the ongoing ethnic tensions in the state, according to Indian security officials.

Since May 2023, the conflict has claimed over 260 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people. Violence continues to escalate, with November alone seeing 20 fatalities, prompting the Union Government to deploy an additional 10,000 troops to the region. This brings the total deployment to nearly 67,000 personnel, supported by a 30,000-strong police force.

Manipur, a hilly and forested region bordering Myanmar, has a long history of insurgencies. Many militants fled across the porous border in past decades following military crackdowns. However, recent years have seen a resurgence of these groups.

Former Manipur police chief Yumnam Joykumar Singh noted the return of insurgents who had been subdued a decade ago. “Some of them are coming back from Myanmar; some have already returned,” Singh stated. The insurgents are equipped with modern arms, including rocket launchers, sniper rifles, and foreign-made assault weapons such as M16s and AK-47s, security officials reported.

Initial months of the conflict saw the looting of government armories, but more sophisticated arms have since been trafficked from Myanmar. Illegal funding for these weapons comes from extortion and the illicit drug trade, particularly through poppy cultivation, officials added.

The conflict has roots in disputes over economic and political privileges. Tensions erupted following a court order that proposed extending certain government benefits to Manipur’s Meitei community, traditionally concentrated in the prosperous Imphal valley, similar to those available to the historically disadvantaged Kuki community in the hill areas.

Security forces have established a buffer zone to mitigate clashes, but the situation remains dire. Insurgent groups from both communities are alleged to have connections with armed factions across the border in Myanmar, fueling further instability.

Meitei groups are said to have fought alongside Myanmar’s military junta, while Kuki groups reportedly received support and weapons from anti-junta rebels and semi-autonomous regions in Myanmar. Arrest data reviewed by Reuters reveals that over 200 Meitei insurgents and 50 Kuki insurgents were apprehended this year alone.

The escalation has been accompanied by a rise in extortion and illegal activities to fund insurgent operations. Authorities have sought to curb poppy farming, which fuels the drug trade in the region, but the nexus of militancy and narcotics remains entrenched.

“Poppy cultivation happens in the hills, but processing occurs in the valley, often involving labor from multiple communities under armed protection,” said Homen Thangjam, a professor at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University.

India’s Constitution refers to the country as a "Union of States," emphasizing the unity and indivisibility of the nation. In line with this principle, the Union Government has announced plans to fortify its 1,600-kilometer border with Myanmar, aiming to curb cross-border insurgent movements. However, the entrenched nature of the conflict poses significant challenges.

“These are two distinct yet interlinked conflicts—one against military rule in Myanmar and another internal ethnic conflict,” explained Gautam Mukhopadhaya, India’s former ambassador to Myanmar. “It’s inevitable that weapons and fighters move between these battlefields.”

As Manipur grapples with this complex crisis, the path to peace requires addressing both the internal grievances and the cross-border dynamics fueling the violence.