Imphal: Security personnel fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters in the hill town of Churachandpur district in Manipur on Thursday. According to reports, the incident occurred when tribal women attempted to storm the official residence of BJP MLA L M Khaute.
Personnel from the Assam Rifles, Manipur Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) stopped the protesters, triggering stone-pelting and clashes between the community members and security forces around 11:00 am.
Festoons and placards carried by the protesters read, “LM Khaute sold out” and “Our voices unheard.” The Vaiphei Women’s Association, Churachandpur, organised the protest.
The demonstrators raised slogans demanding that LM Khaute step down and reiterated their demand for a Separate Administration. They also chanted, “We don’t want a popular government” and “Don’t play with our blood.”
The protests by tribal women intensified after Kuki-Zo MLAs including Nemcha Kipgen, L M Khaute and Ngursanglur Sanate participated in the Manipur Assembly session virtually from New Delhi.
Their participation marked their remote attendance at the session. Nemcha Kipgen, a leader of the Kuki community, was inducted as Deputy Chief Minister in the Yumnam Khemchand-led government, which was sworn in on February 4, 2026.
The Kuki-Zo people in Manipur have been demanding a separate administration in the form of a Union Territory (UT) with a legislature under Article 239A of the Indian Constitution.
The demand stems from calls for political autonomy and security, as well as claims of an inability to coexist with the Meitei community following the ethnic violence that began in May 2023. They seek a distinct administrative structure for the hill districts to address concerns related to security, land rights and rehabilitation.
However, the demand, which intensified after the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023, has faced strong resistance from the Central government. The Centre has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the territorial integrity of Manipur.