The Keirak Protests: A Microcosm of Manipur’s Fractured Social Contract

When hundreds of women from Manipur’s Keirak community gathered at the Keithel Lampak Community Hall in June 2024, their sit-in protest wasn’t merely a reaction to a local tragedy—it was a symptom of a far deeper crisis eroding the state’s social fabric. The deaths of two children in Tronglaobi village, followed by allegations of excessive force by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, became the catalyst for what is now emerging as one of the most significant grassroots mobilizations in Manipur’s recent history. But to understand why this protest matters beyond Imphal’s borders, we must examine it through three critical lenses: the failure of institutional trust, the weaponization of ethnic identity, and the paradox of militarization in India’s Northeast.

The Collapse of Institutional Trust: When the State Becomes the Adversary

The Keirak protests didn’t occur in a vacuum. They represent the culmination of decades of institutional failure in Manipur, where the state’s monopoly on legitimate violence has been repeatedly called into question. Data from the South Asia Terrorism Portal reveals that between 2010 and 2023, Manipur recorded 1,247 civilian deaths in conflict-related incidents—nearly 30% of which were attributed to security forces. This history of violence has created a pervasive climate of distrust, where communities like Keirak no longer view the government as a protector but as an active participant in their marginalization.

The protestors’ demands—an independent investigation into the Tronglaobi incident and the withdrawal of CRPF personnel—reflect a broader crisis of legitimacy. When Khaidem Ongbi Lembi Leima, a spokesperson for the Keirak Apunba Meira Paibi (a powerful women’s collective), declared that “the government has failed its own people,” she articulated a sentiment that resonates far beyond Keirak. This isn’t just about one incident; it’s about a pattern of impunity. A 2023 report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative found that 87% of complaints against security forces in Manipur under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) were either dismissed or pending indefinitely. The Keirak protests, therefore, represent a community’s last resort when formal channels of justice have been exhausted.

The Role of Women as Custodians of Moral Authority

What makes the Keirak mobilization particularly significant is its leadership by the Meira Paibi (“torchbearers”), a network of women’s collectives that have historically served as Manipur’s moral compass. Since the 1970s, these groups have intervened in everything from drug trafficking to political corruption, leveraging their socially sanctioned authority to hold both state and non-state actors accountable. Their involvement in the Keirak protests isn’t just symbolic—it signals that the crisis has reached a threshold where even the most conservative elements of society feel compelled to act.

“When mothers take to the streets, it is not a protest—it is a funeral for the idea of the state.” Dr. Bimol Akoijam, Professor of Sociology, JNU

Ethnic Fault Lines: The Hill-Valley Divide as a Colonial Legacy

The Tronglaobi incident and the subsequent protests cannot be divorced from Manipur’s fraught ethnic geography. The state is divided between the majority Meitei community (who primarily inhabit the valley) and over 30 recognized tribes (who reside in the hills). This division isn’t accidental—it’s a direct consequence of British colonial policies that administered the hills and valleys as separate entities, a system that post-independence India inherited and perpetuated.

The current tensions are exacerbated by two competing narratives:

1. The Meitei Perspective: The community argues that their political and economic dominance is being systematically dismantled, pointing to the lack of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, which limits their access to forest lands and educational quotas. The Manipur High Court’s 2023 recommendation to include Meiteis in the ST list—later stayed by the Supreme Court—ignited fears among tribal groups of demographic and political marginalization.
2. The Tribal (Kuki-Zomi) Perspective: Tribal leaders contend that Meitei demands for ST status are a land-grab tactic, citing historical grievances such as the forced annexation of hill territories during the 19th-century “Kabaw Valley” conflicts. The 2023 ethnic clashes, which left over 200 dead and displaced 60,000, were fueled by these long-standing tensions.

The Keirak protests, while led by Meitei women, have carefully avoided explicit ethnic framing. Instead, they’ve focused on universal themes—justice for children, accountability for security forces—which suggests a deliberate strategy to build cross-community solidarity. However, the underlying ethnic tensions remain. A 2024 survey by the Centre for Policy Research found that 72% of Kuki respondents believed the Meitei-led protests were “a distraction from the real issue of tribal rights,” while 65% of Meiteis viewed tribal demands as “secessionist.”

The Paradox of Militarization: How Security Forces Fuel Insecurity

Manipur is one of India’s most militarized regions, with a ratio of one security personnel for every 47 civilians (compared to the national average of 1:620). Yet, this heavy presence has not translated into security. Instead, it has created a vicious cycle:

1. Over-policing without accountability: AFSPA, in force since 1958, has been criticized by the UN and Amnesty International for enabling human rights abuses. Between 2015 and 2022, Manipur recorded 42 cases of extrajudicial killings by security forces, with zero convictions.
2. Under-policing where it matters: Despite the heavy military presence, local police stations in conflict zones like Churachandpur and Kangpokpi operate with skeletal staff. A 2023 IndiaSpend analysis revealed that 58% of police personnel in Manipur are deployed for VIP security, leaving critical gaps in community policing.
3. The CRPF’s dual role: The Central Reserve Police Force, deployed to “maintain peace,” is increasingly seen as a partisan actor. In the Tronglaobi incident, eyewitnesses alleged that CRPF personnel fired without provocation, a claim the force denied. This mirrors patterns seen in Jammu & Kashmir and Chhattisgarh, where central forces are often perceived as occupying armies rather than peacekeepers.

The Keirak protesters’ demand for the CRPF’s withdrawal taps into this broader disillusionment. As one protestor told Connect Quest, “We don’t want more guns. We want a government that listens.” This sentiment is echoed in data: A 2024 Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs report found that 68% of Northeast Indians believe increased militarization has worsened security, not improved it.

The Economic Cost of Conflict

Beyond the human toll, Manipur’s instability has crippling economic consequences. The state’s GDP growth rate halved from 6.2% in 2021 to 3.1% in 2023, with the handloom and tourism sectors—traditionally women-led—hit hardest. The Keirak region, known for its phanek (traditional wrap-around skirt) weavers, saw exports drop by 40% in 2023. “Every day of curfew means a day without income,” said Laishram Memcha, a weaver from Keirak. “The government talks of ‘Act East’ policies, but how can we trade when our roads are blocked by soldiers?”

Regional Implications: Why Keirak Matters for the Northeast

The Keirak protests are a microcosm of broader trends reshaping India’s Northeast:

1. The Rise of “Feminist Peacebuilding”

Across the Northeast, women’s collectives are increasingly filling the void left by failed governance. In Nagaland, the Naga Mothers’ Association has mediated between armed groups and the state. In Assam, the Mahila Samiti networks have exposed corruption in tea plantations. The Keirak Meira Paibi’s protest is part of this regional phenomenon, where women are redefining activism not as confrontation but as restorative justice. Their demand for a “mother’s peace”—rooted in nurturance rather than retribution—offers a counter-narrative to the militarized masculinity that dominates conflict resolution in the region.

2. The Crisis of Federalism

Manipur’s turmoil exposes the flaws in India’s asymmetric federalism. While states like Punjab and Tamil Nadu have leveraged their political clout to negotiate favorable terms with the Center, Northeast states often find their autonomy curtailed. The imposition of AFSPA, the delayed disbursement of funds (Manipur received only 60% of its 2023–24 central budget allocation by March 2024), and the Center’s tendency to treat the region as a “security problem” rather than a political entity have fueled resentment. The Keirak protests, with their direct challenge to central forces, are a symptom of this structural imbalance.

3. The BJP’s Northeast Dilemma

For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Manipur presents a strategic paradox. The party has invested heavily in the Northeast, winning elections in Manipur, Assam, and Tripura by promising “development and peace.” Yet, its handling of the Manipur crisis—delayed intervention, contradictory statements from union ministers, and the perceived shielding of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh—has eroded its credibility. The Keirak protests, which have seen slogans like “Modi, listen to the mothers,” highlight the growing gap between the BJP’s nationalist rhetoric and its governance realities. With state elections due in 2027, the party’s response to Keirak could determine its future in the region.

4. The China Factor

India’s Northeast shares a 1,395 km border with Myanmar, where the military junta’s collapse has created a power vacuum. Chinese infrastructure projects in Myanmar’s Sagaing region—just 100 km from Manipur’s Moreh town—have raised concerns in New Delhi about Beijing’s encirclement strategy. The Keirak protests, while domestic in origin, occur against this geopolitical backdrop. Instability in Manipur provides China with opportunities to exploit ethnic grievances, as seen in its reported support for certain Naga and Kuki factions. A 2023 United States Institute of Peace report warned that “prolonged conflict in Manipur could become a vector for Chinese influence,” making the resolution of local grievances a matter of national security.

Paths Forward: Can Keirak Offer a Model for Reconciliation?

The Keirak protests, while born of tragedy, have opened three potential avenues for conflict transformation:

1. Community-Led Truth and Reconciliation

The Meira Paibi’s demand for an independent investigation into Tronglaobi could evolve into a broader truth-seeking process. Models like South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission or Colombia’s Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz (Special Jurisdiction for Peace) demonstrate how local ownership of justice processes can break cycles of violence. In Manipur, this could take the form of a Nupi Lan (Women’s War)-style tribunal, where women from all communities adjudicate grievances.

2. Demilitarization and Police Reform

The call to withdraw CRPF personnel should be paired with structural reforms:

• Repealing AFSPA, as recommended by the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005).
• Increasing the representation of tribal communities in the state police (currently at 12%).
• Establishing unarmed “Peace Corps” units, modeled after Kerala’s Janamaithri Police, to handle communal tensions.

3. Economic Reintegration

The handloom sector, which employs over 200,000 women in Manipur, could serve as a bridge for ethnic reconciliation. Initiatives like the Keirak Weavers’ Collective, which partners Meitei and tribal artisans, have shown that economic interdependence can reduce prejudice. Scaling such models—with support from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region—could turn shared livelihood