Kuki officials stand ground in Meitei-dominated Imphal

The ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur that has roiled the northeastern state for the past seven months has deepened fault lines between Meitei and Kuki communities, dividing them geographically across the state. While no Meiteis live in hill districts such as Churachandpur anymore, Kukis from the valley have taken refuge in the hills.

- Prawesh Lama

However, a handful of Kuki bureaucrats, police officers and officials on central government services still reside in Checkon and New Checkon localities in the middle of Imphal, amid tight security. People familiar with the matter said these few Kuki officials are all from the community that are left in the city.

On the night of September 2, the last of the 10 Kuki families living in New Lambulane locality, adjoining Checkon, moved out of Imphal after police and intelligence officials noted a threat to their lives.

On Friday, HT visited the two most-guarded localities, less than 2km from the chief minister's residence, in Imphal. A narrow lane right in front of the city convention centre has some of the houses of Kuki officials, guarded by a team of armed personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF). Standing close to the barricades, the BSF personnel ensure there are no gatherings nearby, amid reports of armed mobs setting the abandoned houses of Kuki families on fire.