Manipur BJP spokesperson quits party over ongoing ethnic crisis

Bharatiya Janata Party’s Manipur unit spokesperson Elangbam Johnson resigned from the party on Friday (Could 8, 2026) because of the party management’s alleged failure to resolve the ongoing ethnic crisis within the State.

Mr. Johnson, who unsuccessfully contested the 2022 Meeting election from Keishamthong constituency, informed journalists in Manipur’s capital, Imphal, that he consulted his supporters earlier than deciding to stop the party. He mentioned the BJP was unable to persuade folks since Could 2023 that it may usher in peace.

The battle between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities broke out on Could 3, 2023, claiming greater than 260 lives and displacing some 62,000 others over the previous three years.

Mr. Johnson criticised the BJP’s Manipur unit for its “lack of ability to take choices independently on issues in regards to the State” and act decisively on them. He alleged that the State unit lacked the ability to make choices even on disciplinary issues.

He was related to the United Committee Manipur, a civil society organisation, earlier than becoming a member of politics.

Assaults condemned

A number of political events in Manipur and social organisations have condemned the Could 7 assaults on Tangkhul Naga villages alongside the India-Myanmar border, allegedly by members of the militant group Kuki Nationwide Military-Burma.

Congress and the Nationwide Individuals’s Party (NPP) alleged that Kuki extremists had been concerned within the assaults within the State’s Kamjong district and urged the federal government to take speedy steps to make sure the security of the civilians.

The United Naga Council, the apex physique of all Naga tribes in Manipur, additionally condemned the cross-border assaults and slammed the “inaction” of Central safety forces deployed alongside the worldwide border with Myanmar.

‘Troops responded instantly’

Reacting to the allegations, the paramilitary Assam Rifles mentioned that its troops responded instantly after heavy firing and explosions had been reported close to Z. Choro near the worldwide border. It mentioned the troops, regardless of the unstable scenario, moved into the affected space to safeguard the civilians.

“In the course of the operation, a number of rescue groups had been deployed directly. Ten homes affected by the violence had been secured, and civilians evacuated. Fifteen distressed villagers, together with girls and kids, had been safely rescued and supplied humanitarian help on the Assam Rifles camp at Aloyo,” a Defence Ministry assertion mentioned on Friday.

The assertion additional mentioned that the Assam Rifles carried out fast space sanitisation operations to forestall additional escalation and restore stability. An armed suspected NSCN(IM) member was apprehended together with an AK-47 rifle, journal, and ammunition throughout search operations and later handed over to native police authorities, it added.

“At the same time as tensions remained excessive, Assam Rifles… continued domination patrols throughout different delicate areas of Kamjong district to make sure peace and safety for residents,” the assertion learn, asserting the Assam Rifles’ dedication to defending Indian residents and sustaining peace alongside the India-Myanmar border.