A new phase of violence has begun in Manipur.
New Delhi: Manipur has started burning once again. Last week, hundreds of people protested in the state violating curfew. The Kuki and Meitei communities are at odds again in the state and 23 people have been arrested in the latest violence. Let us tell you that hundreds of people have lost their lives in the riots that started in the state last year. The biggest question that arises is what happened to make Manipur suddenly disturbed? Why are the Kuki and Meitei communities viewed with suspicion? Come, let’s try to understand.
How did violence start in Manipur?
On April 20, 2023, a judge of the Manipur High Court directed the state government to “consider the request of the Meitei community for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes.” After this, fear spread among the Kukis that after obtaining ST status, the Meitai people would be allowed to purchase land in the mountainous areas. After this, first there were protests over this issue and then violence began. The matter has reached such a point that hundreds of lives have been lost to violence in the state so far.
Let us tell you that half of the population of Manipur are Meiteis and if they get ST status, there is a chance to improve their lives. However, the Kukis believe this will reduce their reserve quota.
The Meitei community traditionally lives in the Manipur Valley, which constitutes 10% of the state’s area. At the same time, people from the Naga and Kuki communities live mainly in mountainous areas. The Kuki believe that the Meiteis living in the valley have been given better opportunities and that is why they oppose reservation for the Meitei community.
Myanmar refugees also become a problem
Following the 2021 Myanmar coup, a large number of refugees from the neighboring country arrived in the state. Manipur has a border of about 400 km long with Myanmar. The Kuki community of Manipur shares ethnic ancestry with the Chin tribe of Myanmar and the Meiteis feared that the influx of refugees would reduce their numbers in the state. It is said that in the mountainous areas of Manipur there are a large number of refugees from Myanmar. In such a situation, instead of decreasing, mistrust between the Kuki and Meitei communities is increasing.
Why hasn’t peace returned to Manipur yet?
Both the Meitei and Kuki communities are armed with weapons. Both communities also possess automatic weapons stolen from state police or imported from Myanmar. People of the Kuki community also continue to accuse Chief Minister Biren Singh of being involved in violence against them and continue to demand his removal. BJP leader Biren Singh, who belongs to the Meitei community, rejects these allegations by the Kukis. Biren Singh has many times blamed the violence on the drug mafia and illegal immigrants, especially refugees from Myanmar.
What is behind this new wave of violence?
The latest incidents of violence began this month when a 31-year-old Kuki woman was burned to death in a village in Jiribam district. This area was not affected by the conflict until June. The Kukis blamed the people of the Meitei community for this act. The Kukis and Meiteis have moved to different areas of Manipur since last year’s clashes, but Jiribam still has a mixed population and tensions are frequently reported from there. Days after the incident, 10 armed Kukis were killed in a shootout with security forces after they attempted to attack a police station in Jiribam district.
In the midst of all this, 6 people from the Meitei community disappeared, of which 3 bodies were found floating in the river. The bodies of three more people were also later recovered. Angered by this incident, people protested in Imphal, the state capital. Police said on Sunday they arrested 23 people for vandalizing and setting fire to the homes of parliamentarians and ministers. Amid rising violence in Manipur, 8 CRPF companies have reached the state capital Imphal and will be deployed in sensitive and border areas.
