u/Melhoi_lml

As someone from the Kuki-Zo community who was raised in Imphal alongside Meitei and Tangkhul friends, watching this conflict unfold has been deeply painful and confusing.

What troubles me most is how quickly rumours replaced truth. Every community seemed to have its own narrative, and very little effort was made to properly verify information before emotions took over. Even sections of the media appeared more interested in amplifying outrage than fact-checking events responsibly.

Take the incident during the peace rally, for example. The Kuki community immediately blamed the Meitei for burning the Anglo-Kuki War Memorial, yet there was never any clear evidence establishing who was actually responsible. Some people pointed fingers at ISTV reporters simply because they happened to be present at the scene. But journalists were expected to be there — it was one of the largest rallies organised by the tribal student bodies. Presence alone is not proof.

Another thing that still raises questions for me is how quickly rumours spread that Kuki-Zo groups were “attacking” Meiteis, triggering mobilisation from groups like Arambai Tenggol. From what many of us saw initially, it seemed like a conflict that could have been contained and resolved before it spiralled into something far more destructive.

The more I think about it, the less this violence makes sense as a purely communal issue. It often feels as though larger forces benefited from the chaos — whether political, criminal, or economic interests that thrive when ordinary people are divided and distracted.

Yes, illegal immigration from Myanmar is a legitimate concern because of the ongoing conflict there. And yes, people fleeing violence deserve humanitarian shelter and compassion. But I do not believe that alone explains the scale of hatred and destruction we have witnessed in Manipur.

What worries me most is the future. I fear we are raising a generation shaped by trauma, suspicion, and anger — regardless of whether they are Kuki, Meitei, Naga, or anything else. I grew up with Meitei and Tangkhul friends. We shared classrooms, meals, jokes, and memories without constantly seeing each other through the lens of community and conflict.

I worry that our children may never experience that same sense of normalcy and friendship if this cycle continues.

At some point, we must start asking harder questions, rejecting rumours, demanding accountability from everyone, and refusing to let fear turn an entire generation into radicals. Because once hatred becomes inherited, peace becomes much harder to rebuild.

As someone from the Kuki-Zo community who was raised in Imphal alongside Meitei and Tangkhul friends, watching this conflict unfold has been deeply painful and confusing.

What troubles me most is how quickly rumours replaced truth. Every community seemed to have its own narrative, and very little effort was made to properly verify information before emotions took over. Even sections of the media appeared more interested in amplifying outrage than fact-checking events responsibly.

Take the incident during the peace rally, for example. The Kuki community immediately blamed the Meitei for burning the Anglo-Kuki War Memorial, yet there was never any clear evidence establishing who was actually responsible. Some people pointed fingers at ISTV reporters simply because they happened to be present at the scene. But journalists were expected to be there — it was one of the largest rallies organised by the tribal student bodies. Presence alone is not proof.

Another thing that still raises questions for me is how quickly rumours spread that Kuki-Zo groups were “attacking” Meiteis, triggering mobilisation from groups like Arambai Tenggol. From what many of us saw initially, it seemed like a conflict that could have been contained and resolved before it spiralled into something far more destructive.

The more I think about it, the less this violence makes sense as a purely communal issue. It often feels as though larger forces benefited from the chaos — whether political, criminal, or economic interests that thrive when ordinary people are divided and distracted.

Yes, illegal immigration from Myanmar is a legitimate concern because of the ongoing conflict there. And yes, people fleeing violence deserve humanitarian shelter and compassion. But I do not believe that alone explains the scale of hatred and destruction we have witnessed in Manipur.

What worries me most is the future. I fear we are raising a generation shaped by trauma, suspicion, and anger — regardless of whether they are Kuki, Meitei, Naga, or anything else. I grew up with Meitei and Tangkhul friends. We shared classrooms, meals, jokes, and memories without constantly seeing each other through the lens of community and conflict.

I worry that our children may never experience that same sense of normalcy and friendship if this cycle continues.

At some point, we must start asking harder questions, rejecting rumours, demanding accountability from everyone, and refusing to let fear turn an entire generation into radicals. Because once hatred becomes inherited, peace becomes much harder to rebuild.