Ethnic violence in Manipur

The Meitei People are an ethnic group representing most people in the Imphal Valley of Manipur who are not on the Scheduled Tribes (ST) List. The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) began demanding ST status for the Meitei people in 2012, claiming it would restore the harmonious relationship between the valley and the hill’s people. This alleviated the contempt of the surrounding tribes who already felt that the government unduly favoured the Meitei tribe’s interests with the bulk of the government’s budget and developments being provided to them. On 20 April 2023, the Manipur High Court directed the state government to "consider the request of the Meitei community to be included in the ST list." The hill’s people viewed this demand as an attempt to reduce the power of the Naga and Kuki, surrounding tribes in the area, to enable the Meitei to make inroads into the hill regions, thereby solidifying their hold on the area.  On the 3rd of May 2023, tens of thousands of people across Manipur joined a "Tribal Solidarity March" organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM), opposing the Meitei demand for ST status. The march was met by a counter-response from the Meitei as the state erupted in violence. Those returning from the march were met by a “counter-blockade” by the Meitei, resulting in stone-throwing and arson of vehicles and properties.  There has been a rise in crime in Manipur. According to police reports, a man named RK Prithibi Singh was brutally murdered, with his hands tied at his back, gagged, and shot at point-blank range. The Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) had claimed his murder stating that he was working with security forces. They labelled him as a surrendered militant and an associate of other former militants in taking on Indian security forces. In a related incident, two police officers were killed in an encounter with armed miscreants in Moreh, Manipur. The escalating tension has compelled the state government to seek assistance from the central government in reining in the worsening law-and-order situation. Manipur had recently witnessed an escalation in violence, including deadly rocket attacks that have taken place. The incident was part of a series of clashes and security threats that have continued to plague the region. In the aftermath of a bomb attack at Moriang in the Bishnupur district- where the blast killed an elderly man and injured five others, and several other similar aggressions; schools in the region have been suspended indefinitely until the situation has improved. Violence escalated even further on September 7, 2023, with five reportedly killed in the Jiriban district. Security forces were able to demolish three militant bunkers within the Churachandpur district following the rocket attacks. There have been an estimated two hundred and twenty-one deaths due to ethnic violence between the two tribal groups since May 2023 which has left several thousands of people homeless. Additionally, the recent decision to close schools highlighted the state government’s concern for the safety of the citizens during the ongoing conflict. Despite the severity of the issue, having involved over two hundred fatalities and the displacement of over 60000 people, it had initially been neglected by the central government and mainstream news channels, who had not provided any distinct address on the matter. Their response on the issue culminated in a Vote of No Confidence nearly being passed against the Prime Minister over the parliament’s involvement. On July 26, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the ongoing crisis before the Rajya Sabha stating that efforts were being made to restore peace in Manipur. The ‘social tensions’ in the state were categorised by him as deeply rooted in the historical background of the state. It has been reported that nearly 11,000 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered and more than 500 people have been arrested concerning the issue. According to government reports, by May 3, 2024, two hundred and twenty-one people had been killed in the violence with sixty thousand people having been displaced. Previous statistics had also reported more than a thousand people injured, and thirty-two people missing. Further, four thousand, seven hundred and eighty-six homes were burnt down while three hundred and eighty temples and churches were desecrated.  This conflict depicts the complexity of ethnic identities in Manipur which have their roots in the growth of the region after the colonial era and the subsequent political developments in post-independence India. The ongoing violence still poses a threat to the peace and governance in the region, compelling immediate actions and an understanding of its underlying issues in the pursuit of restoring order to this disrupted region.   It is imperative that the government engages in compromissory talks with the representatives of the ethnic communities in the region in an attempt at reconciliation, to ensure the resolution of their grievances in the pursuit of fostering a stable, harmonious society in Manipur.  To conclude, the Manipur violence is the result of internal tensions in the state, between the Meitei people and their surrounding tribes, who fear being dominated should the Meitei tribe receive Scheduled Tribe status. The violence has involved aggressions varying from rocket attacks to militant and gender-based violence. Concern for its citizens has led to the closing of schools as the government, now with the undivided aid of the Cabinet, seeks to bring peace to the state.