Manipur tribal body to observe May 3 as ‘Separation Day’

A protest march by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) in Manipur’s Churachandpur. File photo
| Photo Credit: PTI

A tribal organisation catering to Kuki-Zo aspirations has called for observing May 3 as ‘Separation Day’ to mark “two years of total separation from the Meitei community” in Manipur.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) said the solemn day would be observed at the Wall of Remembrance for the Kuki-Zo people killed in the ethnic conflict that broke out on May 3, 2023. It said the wall in Churachandpur district’s Tuibuong stands as a symbol of collective grief, resilience, and unity.

“The event will be a day of reflection and remembrance for the victims of the ethnic conflict that has deeply impacted the Kuki-Zo communities. It will feature a series of programmes, including prayers and exhortations for the victims and their families, a keynote address, organisational reports, and speeches by various tribal leaders,” the ITLF said in a statement on Wednesday (April 23, 2025).

It added that a significant part of the event will be the ‘Jangnadopna’ ceremony, a traditional condolence ritual to honour those who lost their lives during the conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities.

“There will be no shutdown on the day. However, traffic movement will be restricted in and around the Wall of Remembrance to ensure the sanctity and smooth conduct of the programme,” the ITLF said, appealing to all sections of the community to participate in the event.

More than 250 people were killed and some 60,000 were displaced in Manipur since May 2023. Although the State has been relatively peaceful after the imposition of the President’s Rule on February 13, the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities have either avoided or have been barred from travelling to each other’s territories.