Imphal: Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Thursday informed the Assembly that 306 people have been killed and 49 are still missing in the ethnic violence that began on May 3, 2023.
Official tally presented in House
Responding to a question from BJP MLA Sapam Ranjan Singh on the second day of the current Assembly session, Mr. Konthoujam gave the numbers as current through 31 August 2026. The minister said the violence erupted after a "Tribal Solidarity March" in the hill districts, which protested demands by sections of the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe status.
"Since the violence started on May 3, 2023, 306 people have died, and 49 people are still missing as of August 31, 2026," the Home Minister said.
The Assembly statement underlines the sustained human toll of the confrontation between communities. Meiteis make up about 53% of the State's population and are concentrated in the Imphal Valley, while tribals — including Nagas and Kukis — account for roughly 40% and largely reside in the hill districts.
Governance and security developments
Following months of unrest, President's rule was imposed on 13 February 2025, after the BJP-led State government headed by Chief Minister Biren Singh resigned on 9 February 2025. The Assembly was placed under suspended animation at that time. President's rule was later revoked on 4 February 2026, hours before the formation of a new State government under BJP leader Y. Khemchand Singh.
The Home Minister's figures were given against this backdrop of changes in administration and ongoing concern over law and order. The official tallies cover casualties and missing persons up to the end of August 2026, but do not provide a breakdown by district, community or category of victim in the statement recorded in the House.
Impact and unresolved issues
The Assembly disclosure underscores several outstanding questions for both the State and Centre: the status of investigations into killings and disappearances, measures for rehabilitation of displaced families, and steps aimed at restoring long-term communal harmony. The minister's statement did not list progress on prosecutions or provide details of relief disbursal to affected households.
Local civil society groups and community organisations have repeatedly urged comprehensive documentation of casualties, transparent investigations and a credible mechanism for tracing missing persons. The Home Minister's numerical update will be scrutinised by such groups as well as by Members of the Assembly during the session.
Context and demographics
Analysts say the demographic distribution — Meiteis concentrated in the valley and tribal communities in the hills — has been central to tensions over land, identity and political representation. The "Tribal Solidarity March" that precipitated the 2023 clashes was organised to protest demands by sections of the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe status, an issue that remains sensitive and politically charged.
Since the outbreak of violence, intermittent incidents have continued to affect security in both valley and hill areas, and periodic encounters, protests and restrictions on movement have been reported in different parts of the State. The Assembly disclosure provides an official benchmark of the human cost, but many stakeholders continue to call for fuller disclosure and concrete action plans.
What remains to be clarified
- Detailed district-wise and community-wise breakdown of the 306 deaths and 49 missing.
- Progress and outcomes of investigations and prosecutions related to the violence.
- Specific rehabilitation and relief measures for displaced persons and families of the victims.
The Home Minister's statement in the Assembly offers an official cumulative figure but leaves several operational and accountability questions open for debate as the session proceeds.
