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2023–2024 Manipur violence

Coordinates: 24°36′N 93°48′E / 24.6°N 93.8°E / 24.6; 93.8
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2023 Manipur violence
Date3 May 2023 – 17 May 2023
Location
Manipur, India

24°36′N 93°48′E / 24.6°N 93.8°E / 24.6; 93.8
Caused byEthnic tensions between Meitei
and Kuki peoples in Manipur
MethodsArson, rioting
Parties
Casualties
Death(s)73[1]
Injuries243[1]
Damage26,000+ temporarily displaced[1]
46,000+ relocated to other areas[1]
2023–2024 Manipur violence is located in India
2023–2024 Manipur violence
Location within India

An ethnic clash erupted on 3 May 2023 in India's north-eastern state of Manipur between the Meitei people, a largely Hindu majority that lives in the Imphal Valley, and the mainly Christian tribes from the surrounding hills, including the Kuki and Zo peoples.[2]

The violence killed at least 60 people, and injured at least a further 230.[3][4][5][6] It began in Churachandpur district during the "Tribal Solidarity March" called by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) to protest the granting of reservations to the majority Meitei community.[7]

The Indian Army flew in close to 10,000 troops and paramilitary forces to restore law and order.[8] Internet services in the state were suspended for a period of five days[9] and Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code was invoked.[10] The Indian troops were given "shoot on sight" orders to enforce the curfew in "extreme cases".[2][11]

Background

Further information: Hill tribes of Northeast India, Ethnic relations in India, and Insurgency in Manipur

Manipur has had intercommunal tensions and disputes over land and demographics for decades.[6] It last witnessed its communal fault lines give rise to violent clashes in 1993, when Hindu Meiteis clashed with Pangals (Muslims) in violence that also affected the tribal Nagas and Kukis.[12]

The Meiteis, who are largely Hindu and make 53% of the population, are prohibited from settling in the hilly regions of the state as per the Land Reform Act of Manipur, which limits them to reside in the Imphal Valley, constituting 10% of the state's land.[13] The tribal population, consisting of predominantly Christian Kukis and the Nagas, forms about 40% of the state's 3.5 million people, reside in the hilly regions consisting of the rest of the 90% of the state. The tribal population is not prohibited from settling in the valley region.[6][7][14][13][2]

While the tribal groups dominate the land ownership, the Meiteis dominate political power in the Manipur Legislative Assembly,[13] and tribal groups complain that government spending is unduly concentrated on the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley.[12] Out of 60 seats, 19 seats are reserved for ST, i.e. for Naga or Kukis; one seat for SC (Schedule Caste) [15] while 40 are unreserved general constituencies, of which 39 seats were won by Meitei candidates in the last election.[16]

According to conflict analyst Jaideep Saikia, the rapid Christianization of Manipur's tribes has also contributed to the socio-cultural gap between communities in the state.[13]

2023 escalation

In 2023, the state government in Manipur began efforts to remove illegal immigrants from settlements in reserve forest areas. Officials have stated that illegal immigrants from Myanmar have been settling in Manipur since the 1970s.[6] Tribal groups have said that illegal immigration is a pretext under which the Meitei population wants to drive the tribal population from their lands.[6] In February 2023, the BJP state government began an eviction drive in districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal, declaring the forest dwellers as encroachers – a move seen as anti-tribal.[17][18]

In March, the Manipur Cabinet withdrew from Suspension of Operation ceasefire agreements with the Kuki National Army and the Zomi Revolutionary Army.[18][17] Several Manipuri organizations also demonstrated in New Delhi to press for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) to be created with 1951 as the base year, complaining of abnormal population growth in hill areas.[6] The first violence broke out as five people were injured in a clash in the Kangpokpi district, where protesters gathered to hold a rally against "encroachment of tribal land in the name of reserved forests, protected forests and wildlife sanctuary".[17] On 11 April, three churches in Imphal's Tribal Colony locality were razed for being "illegal constructions" on government land.[17]

On 20 April 2023, a judge of the Manipur High Court directed the state government to "consider request of the Meitei community to be included in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list."[19] The Kukis feared that the ST status would allow the Meiteis purchase land in the prohibited hilly areas.[6]

Overview

The Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, was scheduled to visit Churachandpur on 28 April and inaugurate an open gym. Before the inauguration could take place, on 27 April, the gym was set on fire by protestors. Section 144 of the IPC was invoked for 5 days and the police clashed with the protestors on 28 April.[20] In Manipur, curfew was imposed across eight districts, including non-tribal dominated Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam, and Bishnupur districts, as well as tribal-dominated Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal districts.[21]

Riots

Amidst the long-standing tensions between the Meitei and the Kuki people, a tribal organization called the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM), opposed to the decision of the Manipur High Court, called for a march named the "Tribal Solidarity March" on 3 May, which turned violent in the district of Churachandpur.[6][10] Reportedly, more than 60,000 protestors participated in this march.[20][22]

During the violence on 3 May, residence and churches of the mostly Kuki Tribal population were attacked in the non-tribal areas.[14][2] According to the police, many houses of the tribal population in Imphal were attacked and 500 occupants were displaced and had to take shelter in Lamphelpat. Around 1000 Meiteis affected by the violence also had to flee from the region and take shelter in Bishnupur. Twenty houses were burnt in the city of Kangpokpi.[11] Violence was observed in Churachandpura, Kakching, Canchipur, Soibam Leikai, Tenugopal, Langol, Kangpokpi and Moreh while mostly being concentrated in the Imphal Valley during which several houses, places of worship and other properties were burnt and destroyed.[23][11]

On 4 May, fresh cases of violence were reported. The police force had to fire several rounds of tear gas shells to control the rioters.[23] Kuki MLA Vunzjagin Valte (BJP), who is the representative of the tribal headquarters of Churachandpur, was attacked during the riots while he was returning from the state secretariat. His condition was reported to be critical on 5 May, while a person accompanying him died.[24][25] The government said around 1700 houses and numerous vehicles were burned down during the violence.[26][27]

Military deployment and evacuations

The Manipur government issued a shoot at sight order on 4 May.[11] By the end of 3 May, 55 columns of the Assam Rifles and the Indian Army were deployed in the region and by 4 May, more than 9,000 people were relocated to safer locations.[7][10][11][28][29] By 5 May, about 20,000 and by 6 May, 23,000 people had been relocated to safe locations under military supervision.[2][30] The central government airlifted 5 companies of the Rapid Action Force to the region.[5] Nearly 10,000 army, para-military and Central Armed Police Forces were deployed in Manipur.[8][31] On 4 May, the Union government invoked Article 355, the security provision of the Indian constitution, and took over the security situation of Manipur.[32][33][34] As of 14 May, the total military build up in Manipur stood at 126 army columns and 62 companies of paramilitary forces.[1]

The insertion of troops led to several engagements between hill-based militants and the Indian Reserve Battalion, resulting in at least five militant deaths. In a separate encounter, four militants were killed. By 6 May the situation had calmed down to a degree.[31] According to journalist Moses Lianzachin, at least twenty-seven churches were destroyed or burned down during the violence.[2] As of 9 May, according to the Manipur government, the death toll was over 60 people.[3] The situation was described as "relatively peaceful" on 10 May, with the curfew being relaxed in places,[35] though unknown militants fired on Indian troops in an incident in Manipur’s Imphal East district, injuring one.[36]

On 12 May, suspected Kuki militants ambushed policemen in Bishnupur district, killed one officer and injuring five others.[37] In a separate incident, a soldier was stabbed and three Meitei community members kidnapped in Torbung, Churachandpur district.[37] A day later, the security advisor to the Manipur Government Kuldeep Singh raised the total fatality count from the violence to more than 70 deaths. This included the discovery of three Public Works Department labourers found dead in a vehicle in the Churachandpur from unknown causes.[38] He added the number of internally displaced people living in camps had been significantly reduced, and that about 45,000 people had been relocated to other areas.[38]

On 14 May, reports of fresh violence surfaced in the Torbung area, with unidentified arsonists torching more property, including houses and trucks. Five companies of Border Security Forces were deployed. In a separate incident, two Assam Rifles personnel were injured.[1] The same day, a delegation of state ministers led by Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh left for New Delhi to meet Union home minister Amit Shah to discuss the situation.[1] The reported tally of casualties and property damage from the violence by this point stood at 73 dead, 243 injured, 1809 houses burned down, 46,145 people evacuated, 26,358 people taken to 178 relief camps, 3,124 people escorted evacuation flights, and 385 criminal cases registered with the authorities.[1]

The internet blackout and curfew remained in place on 16 May.[39] Food was also reported to be scarce, with shops, schools and offices closed, and thousands of people stranded in refugee camps. Fresh violence over the weekend had led to further displacements.[39] On 17 May, the internet blackout was extended for five more days.[40] On the same day the army foiled plans for fresh violence by recovering recovered explosives and Remote Initiation Mechanism for IEDs in Village Bungbal Khullen. No further violence have been reported since.[41]

Probe into involvement of Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun

Five organisations of tribal students of Manipur in New Delhi have demanded a probe into the alleged involvement of two radical Meitei groups : Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun in the “pre-planned” communal violence in the northeastern State unleashed on May 3. [42]

Arambai Tenggol, named after a weapon used by the Manipuri kings, and Meitei Leepun to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bajrang Dal.

Said to have been formed less than five years ago, members of these groups wear black clothes and move around with guns in large groups on two-wheelers. These groups, the tribal students’ organisations said, were said to have targeted villages and urban localities of Kuki-Zomi-Hmar-Mizo people, burned their houses and churches, and raped their women besides killing and injuring many.[43]

Reactions

The Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh stated that the riots were instigated by “prevailing misunderstanding between two communities” and appealed for restoration of normality.[44]

Shashi Tharoor, a Member of Parliament, called for President's rule and blamed the BJP-led government, saying it has failed to govern the state.[45]

Peter Machado, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangalore, expressed concern that the Christian community is being made to feel insecure, adding that "seventeen churches are either vandalised, desecrated or defiled."[46]

Olympic medalist Mary Kom, a native of Manipur, tweeted an appeal seeking help for her home state.[47] The Union Government Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah canceled his campaign programs for the Karnataka election and held meetings with Biren Singh monitoring the situation in Manipur.[48]

A BJP MLA, Dinganglung Gangmei, petitioned the Supreme Court of India against the High Court's recommendation to the state government to add Meitei people to the ST list.[49][50][51]

On 12 May 2023, all 10 Kuki MLAs, including eight from the Bharatiya Janata Party, issued a statement demanding a separate body be created to administer their community under the constitution of India in the wake of the violent ethnic clashes.[52] They alleged that the violence had been “tacitly supported” by the BJP-run state government, and that living under a Meitei-majority administration after the violence would be “as good as death” for their community.[52]

References

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  52. ^ a b "Manipur violence: All 10 Kuki MLAs demand separate administration for their community".
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