Manipur Violence:?Understanding Reasons & Ethnic Dynamics
Om Prakash
MSc Bioinformatics | AI & Data Science Enthusiast | Structural Bioinformatics | Genomics | ML for Biology
Manipur is once again experiencing ethnic conflict, with violent clashes erupting between communities with a long history of discord. The distressing scenes include homes being set ablaze and families being forced to flee. Despite four months of peace, the conflict has reignited, now involving the use of advanced weaponry.
Fresh Outbreak of Violence in Manipur
After four months of peace, ethnic tensions have resurfaced in Manipur, with clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities escalating to the use of advanced high-tech drones and weapons.
The recent attack resulted in two fatalities and six injuries, including two police officers and a journalist, in a bombing incident carried out by drones on Sunday, September 1st. The police reported that the bombings took place at Koutruk and Kadangband villages in the Imphal west district, predominantly inhabited by the Meitei community, bordering the Kuki-majority Kangpokpi hill district. This targeted violence, involving drone attacks against the Meitei people, is perceived as an attempt to disrupt peace and stability in Manipur.
Act Of Terrorism
For the first time in any ethnic conflict occurring in Manipur, extremist groups have been observed using advanced weaponry against civilians. The deployment of high-tech drones for bombing in the Meitei-dominated region has sparked alarm. Security authorities have verified that drones were utilized to deliver bombs for the first time.
Such actions are deeply concerning as they could result in further loss of innocent lives, posing a significant internal security threat. The ease with which these advanced technologies are being employed without hesitation suggests that the extremist groups are receiving funding from neighboring countries like Myanmar.
It is evident that the incident constitutes an act of terrorism. The victims of the attacks were a 31-year-old woman named Naganbam Surbala and a man from Koutruk. Among the deceased and injured, seven individuals are from the Meitei community.
The last such gunfight between the tribal Kuki-Zos and Non-tribal Meitei's took place before the Lok Sabha Elections in April. The attack on Koutruk and Kadangband villages, came a day after the Kuki-zoo people took out rallies in some hill districts demanding separate administration for their community
Ethnic Groups in Manipur
Approximately 10% of the state's geographical area is made up of the Imphal valley, which is home to 57% of the population, primarily consisting of Meitei people, along with minority Muslim and native Sanamahism followers. The remaining 90% of the state's geographical area is occupied by surrounding hills, where 43% of the population belongs to 34 tribal groups, mainly categorized as Nagas and Kuki's.
Major Ethnic Groups
Meitei Community
It is an ethnic group native to Manipur. They form the largest and dominant ethnic group of Manipur. The language they speak is Meitei officially called Manipuri's. They represent about 53% of Manipur population. According to 2011 census: -
Meitei follow both Hinduism and Sanamahi religious traditions and rituals. The Meitei are mainly agriculturist. Meitei's enjoy SC and OBC reservation benefits and are considered advance as they reside in valley region thus, they have easy access to all facilities such as schools, hospitals etc.
Sanamahi religion
Sanmahism is also known as Meiteism or Lainingthouism is an ethnic religion of the Meitei people of Manipur in Northeast India. It is Polytheistic religion means it is a belief system that worships or believes in multiple gods or deities named after Lainingthou Sanamahi one of the most important deities of the Meitei faith. Every Meitei household irrespective of the religion worship Sanamahi and Leimarel Sidabi
Kuki -ZO Community
The Kuki people, an ethnic group living in the Northeastern Indian states of Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, can also be found in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Being one of the major hill tribe communities in the area, the Kuki people have familial ties with the Chin people of Myanmar and the Mizo people of Mizoram, collectively referred to as the Zo people. Classified under the ST category and being a minority, they have been granted various privileges such as
The Kuki people reside in the western mountainous regions and seek self-governance and complete autonomy in administration.
How Kuki Tribe became Christian and why?
The majority of the Kuki people currently adhere to Christianity, with a large number belonging to Protestant denominations, especially the Baptist church. Prior to embracing Christianity, the Kuki, Chin, and Mizo communities followed Animism, a belief system where natural elements, locations, and creatures are believed to possess a spiritual essence or soul, and engaged in rituals that included headhunting.
Following the British victory in the Anglo-Kuki rebellion of 1917-1919, Christian missionaries began arriving in Manipur, influencing the Kuki people to embrace Christianity, resulting in significant transformations in their traditions and customs.
Naga Community
The Nagas are different ethnic groups that originate from northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar. They make up the majority of the population in the Indian state of Nagaland and have a significant presence in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam in India. They live in northeastern hilly area.
Other Indigenous Communities of Manipur
In different regions of Manipur, there are various ethnic groups like the Zomis, Hmars, and Paite, who have smaller populations in comparison to the Meitei's, Nagas, and Kuki's.
Brief History of Manipur
Reasons for Meitei -Kuki Conflict
Pre Independence
The British implemented a strategy of division and control in Manipur, treating the residents of the hills and valleys differently. They perceived the valley inhabitants as more sophisticated and intelligent, in contrast to the hill dwellers whom they viewed as primitive or uncivilized.
The British directly governed the predominantly Meitei-inhabited valley, while the hill regions, dominated by the Nagas and Kuki, were administered separately under distinct policies. This resulted in cultural and geographical division between the communities
Post Independence
Following India's independence, the Indian government sought to unify the North-East region with the rest of the country, officially incorporating it in 1949. However, the Indigenous communities were not in favor of this move and instead advocated for self-governance.
They believed that the central government was infringing upon their long-standing tradition of autonomy and governance, leading them to persist in their opposition to both the state and central authorities. Specifically, the Kuki and Naga tribal populations expressed a desire for independent administration and complete political autonomy to govern their respective territories.
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Hindutva Politics
Following the establishment of the BJP government in 2017 and 2022, the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) gained access to Manipur and motivated the Vaishnavite Meitie community to promote Hindu politics against religious minorities. This led to the emergence of Meitei-based groups that have since increased their involvement in promoting their own beliefs and practices, while also displaying unfavorable attitudes towards religious minorities.
Manipur High Court Order
The decision to include the Meitei community in the ST category by the high court triggered violence in Manipur in 2023-24. The Kuki and Naga tribal groups opposed this move, leading to the organization of a Tribal Solidarity March on 3rd May.
Subsequently, violent clashes erupted between the Kuki and Meitei communities, turning Manipur into a battleground. This resulted in the displacement of 60,000 individuals, with 220 fatalities and many others being forced to seek shelter in relief camps. Schools and colleges have been closed, internet services have been completely suspended, and the right to freedom of movement has been revoked.
Targeting Kuki people
The government's objective was to remove unauthorized occupants from the hill reserved forest and protected areas, which had turned into centers for illicit activities such as drug and arms trafficking. Given Manipur's extensive border with Myanmar, a region known for its instability under military governance, it was easy for illegal enterprises to thrive between the two areas.
The Kuki community had easy access to weapons through the Myanmar border, fueling a profitable drug trade that brought in substantial earnings. According to estimates from civil society, the annual revenue generated from the drug trade amounted to approximately 50,000 crores, surpassing the state's annual budget of about 30,000 crores.
It is not that only Kuki people are involved in Poppy cultivation but also Nagas and Meitei's are also involved in this illegal business but only Kuki's are being targeted and the CM who started the 'War on Drugs' campaign called Kuki as Poppy Cultivators and narco terrorist.
Myanmar issue
Manipur share a long border with Myanmar and thus illegal drug trafficking and weapons become easily accessible in hilly areas of Manipur. After the Myanmar coup in 2021 many illegal migrants settled in Manipur and thus driving the Kuki people out from hilly areas
The Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle is a vast mountainous region spanning approximately 200,000 square kilometers in northeastern Myanmar, northwestern Thailand, and northern Laos. Situated at the confluence of the Puak and Mekong rivers, it has been a major hub for opium production since the 1950s. India is now also concerned about this area as the drug trade has expanded into Manipur and Bangladesh. Manipur has been hit particularly hard, with revenues from drug trafficking surpassing the state's annual budget. Consequently, Manipur has transitioned from being a consumer to a producer of drugs.
The Churachandra district has become the most severely affected area by drugs in Manipur.
Reason for New Wave of Violence
How this conflict can be resolved?
Disclaimer
The content presented in this post is intended for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available sources. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information, the dynamic nature of the situation may result in new developments not covered here. The views expressed in this post are not intended to incite or promote any form of violence, discrimination, or bias. Readers are encouraged to independently verify facts and engage in respectful dialogue on this sensitive topic. The blog and its author do not endorse any political, religious, or ethnic stance.
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