In a significant and emotional development amid Manipur’s prolonged ethnic conflict, Khodang village in the state’s conflict-hit region was officially resettled on May 28, 2026 — exactly three years after residents were forced to flee violence. The village has now become the first Kuki-Zo settlement in Manipur to witness the formal return of displaced residents since the outbreak of ethnic clashes in 2023.
Located in a sensitive buffer zone bordering Churachandpur, Kakching and Bishnupur districts, Khodang was abandoned on May 28, 2023, during the early phase of the violence that engulfed Manipur. Villagers alleged that armed groups attacked the settlement, forcing families to escape overnight, leaving behind homes, belongings and their livelihoods.
Of the more than 40 households in the village, most houses were reportedly burned down, with only a handful of structures remaining intact. Since then, Khodang had remained deserted, becoming one of several abandoned settlements often referred to by locals as “ghost villages.”
Three years later, on the same date, the silence in the village was finally broken as a formal resettlement ceremony marked the reopening of Khodang. Saikot MLA Paolenlal Haokip inaugurated the event by cutting a ribbon at a commemorative stone, symbolically declaring the village habitable once again. A dedication prayer led by Pastor Zalal of GTPA added a solemn and spiritual atmosphere to the occasion.
The programme was attended by civil society leaders, student organisations, women representatives, security personnel and members of chiefs’ associations, who described the event as a hopeful step towards restoring normalcy in the violence-hit state.
Village chief Jamminlien Haokip said the resettlement became possible through coordinated efforts by the MLA, district administration, local officials, civil society groups and village authorities.
“I am very happy that we could resettle from today because of the initiatives taken by MLA Haokip, district officials and CSOs. Now we will be able to resume our normal livelihood activities,” he said.
Authorities said around 40 houses have already been rebuilt in Khodang, while another 10 houses are expected to be constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The reconstruction effort is being viewed as both a humanitarian initiative and a cautious attempt to restore community life in the region.
The reopening of Khodang carries symbolic importance in a state still struggling with the aftermath of ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023. The conflict, linked to tensions over Scheduled Tribe (ST) status demands and longstanding ethnic divisions, has left Manipur sharply polarised, with heavily guarded buffer zones separating communities.
The violence has claimed more than 260 lives and displaced nearly 60,000 people. Thousands of homes, religious sites and public buildings were destroyed, while reports also indicated large-scale looting of state armouries, resulting in thousands of weapons going missing during the unrest.
Against this backdrop, the resettlement of Khodang is being seen as a rare sign of hope and recovery. However, challenges remain significant, with trust between communities still fragile and many displaced families across Manipur continuing to wait for safe conditions to return home.
