Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Haokip Links Manipur Hill Villages to 1990s Displacement
A Manipur lawmaker has offered several explanations for the large number of villages in the state’s hill areas.
He said many people moved during fighting between Naga and Kuki communities from 1992 to 1995.
He also alleged that some fake villages were created so officials could improperly claim government employment funds.
He said some Kuki villages are divided into smaller hamlets led by members of tribal chiefs’ families.
Former chief minister N Biren Singh said government records show 926 unrecognised villages.
The lawmaker also disputed claims that unusual population growth in some districts came from people arriving from Myanmar.
He blamed that growth on what he called a fraudulent Census exercise.
The conflict reportedly killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 50,000 tribal residents.
BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip attributed the rise in villages in Manipur’s hill districts to displacement during the 1992–1995 Naga-Kuki conflict.
He also alleged that corrupt officials helped create “ghost villages” to obtain MGNREGS funds.
Haokip said Kuki customs of splitting villages into new hamlets also contributed to the increase.
Former chief minister N Biren Singh said government records list 926 unrecognised villages in Manipur.
Haokip rejected linking abnormal 2001 Census growth in some areas to immigration from Myanmar’s Chin state, alleging a fraudulent Census exercise instead.
- Who
- BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip made the claims; former chief minister N Biren Singh cited government records listing 926 unrecognised villages.
- What
- The dispute concerns the number and origins of villages in Manipur’s hill districts, as well as unusually high population growth recorded in parts of the 2001 Census.
- When
- The claims were made in social media posts on Friday and Saturday; the referenced Naga-Kuki conflict occurred from 1992 to 1995.
- Where
- Manipur, particularly Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Senapati and other hill districts bordering Myanmar.
- Why
- Haokip attributed the village increase to conflict displacement, alleged ghost-village fraud involving MGNREGS funds, and the splitting of villages into hamlets; he attributed abnormal Census growth to a fraudulent exercise.
Haokip’s Explanation
Official-Record Perspective
Why village numbers increased
Haokip’s Explanation
Haokip said conflict-driven displacement, the creation of alleged ghost villages to draw MGNREGS funds, and the Kuki practice of creating new hamlets explain the increase.
Official-Record Perspective
N Biren Singh cited government records showing 926 unrecognised villages but did not provide, in the report, an alternative explanation for their increase.
Cause of unusual Census growth
Haokip’s Explanation
Haokip said the more-than-100% growth recorded in some 2001 Census sub-divisions resulted from a fraudulent Census exercise.
Official-Record Perspective
The report notes that the unusually high figures had prompted controversy and that Haokip specifically rejected linking them to immigration from Myanmar’s Chin state.
- Conflict period
- The Naga-Kuki ethnic conflict took place from 1992 to 1995.
- Conflict toll
- The conflict reportedly caused more than 1,000 deaths and displaced more than 50,000 tribal people.
- Unrecognised villages
- N Biren Singh said government records list 926 unrecognised villages in Manipur.
- Districts mentioned
- Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Senapati were among the districts discussed.
- 2001 Census issue
- Provisional data showed population growth exceeding 100% in some Senapati sub-divisions.
- Border length
- Manipur shares a 398-kilometre international border with Myanmar.