The recent outbreak of violence in Manipur is rooted in a longstanding history of suspicion and tension between different ethnic groups in the region. For decades, the government of Manipur has been dominated by the Meiteis, who make up the majority of the population and live in the Imphal Valley. This has led to distrust and suspicion among the Nagas and Kukis, who make up a significant portion of the population and live mostly in the surrounding hills. The issue of land ownership has also been a major point of contention, with many tribals accusing the government of encroaching on their land in the name of protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries. Recent events, including the eviction of villagers and the demolition of churches, have only served to further escalate tensions, leading to violent clashes between different ethnic groups.
The recent outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur had been simmering for some time due to a longstanding history of mistrust and suspicion between ethnic groups residing in the Imphal valley and its surrounding hills. However, the conflict escalated after the Manipur government, led by the BJP, initiated a campaign to displace tribal villagers from protected forest areas.
The surge in violence in Manipur can be traced back to the Meitei community's demand for a Scheduled Tribe label for more than a decade. Recently, the Manipur High Court has instructed the state government to propose an ST tag for the community to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry by May 29. The reason for the recent violence can be attributed to this development. The Meitei community's petitioners have argued that they had been granted the ST tag before Manipur's integration with India and are now seeking itsreinstatement.
On Wednesday, a student body in Manipur called for a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in all ten hill districts to protest against the demand for adding the Meitei community to the ST list, following the directive from Manipur HC. The event attracted thousands of participants who voiced their opposition.
Regardless of which political party is in power, the Manipur government has consistently been dominated by Meiteis, who are mostly from the plains and make up 53 percent of the state's population. They primarily reside in the irregular oval-shaped Imphal Valley.
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As a result, the government's actions are often viewed with suspicion by the tribal population, including the Nagas and Kukis, who account for 40 percent of Manipur's population and live mainly in the hills surrounding the valley.
It is noteworthy that the fertile Imphal Valley comprises only one-tenth of the state's total land area, while the surrounding hills, which are ideal for insurgent hideouts and have been the site of a long-standing insurgency, constitute 90 percent of the state's land.
The eviction campaign, which commenced in February, has been perceived as discriminatory towards the tribal communities. The Kuki community, which was directly impacted by it, and other tribals with numerous villages within reserved forest areas, expressed widespread discontent.
Recently, prior to the visit of Chief Minister N Biren Singh to Churachandpur district, a mob vandalized and set on fire the venue in New Lamka town where he was expected to speak.
The mob also partially burned a new open gym that Singh, who is a Meitei, was scheduled to inaugurate on Friday afternoon.
The Indigenous Tribe Leaders Forum had called for a "total shutdown" of the whole Churachandpur district, just 11 hours before the attack took place.
The Forum asserted that despite numerous memorandums submitted to the government protesting the ongoing eviction drive, the government has exhibited no inclination or sincerity in addressing the people's suffering.
The Kuki Students Organization's general secretary for Churachandpur, D J Haokip, stated that hundreds of Kuki tribals had been dislodged from their ancestral territory in the hill district, which has been declared a protected forest.
Haokip added that the Kuki people's distress is not solely about the evictions, but also the administration's failure to offer rehabilitation to those affected.
In the 60-member Manipur Assembly, the Kukis are represented by ten legislators, five of whom are BJP MLAs. The Kuki People's Alliance (KPA), which is affiliated with the ruling BJP government, has two MLAs.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) has asked the six MLAs from Churachandpur district to take a stance on the eviction drive and speak out about it. Failure to do so may result in social boycott, warned Haokip.
In March, a violent clash broke out at Thomas Ground in Kangpokpi district where protesters attempted to hold a rally against the "encroachment of tribal lands."
The state cabinet withdrew from the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) talks with two Kuki-based militant outfits, Kuki National Army and Zomi Revolutionary Army.
The cabinet maintained that the state government would continue to protect the state's forest resources and eliminate poppy cultivation. Meanwhile, the demolition of three churches in Imphal's Tribal colony area on April 11 on the grounds of being "illegal constructions" on government land further fueled discontent.
The 'Tribal Solidarity March' organized by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) on Wednesday to protest against granting ST status to the Meitei community was also met with apprehension.
However, the ensuing violence which followed and caused numerous fatalities was unexpected and led to thousands of people fleeing their homes.
The central government dispatched large numbers of Army, Assam Rifles, and central police forces to contain the situation in Manipur.
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