Ethnic Clashes in Manipur Result in Over 130 Deaths and Thousands Displaced

Ethnic Clashes in Manipur Result in Over 130 Deaths and Thousands Displaced

One of the Indian state Manipur faces violent upheaval between Meitei and Kuki tribes over territorial and ethnic disputes, leading to a significant loss of life and displacement of residents.

Location and Demographics:

Manipur is a hilly north-eastern state in India, situated east of Bangladesh and sharing borders with Myanmar. The state is home to an estimated 3.3 million people, with the Meitei community comprising more than half of the population. The Kuki and Naga tribes form the predominant minority groups, accounting for approximately 43% of the population.

Conflict and Casualties:

Since May,2023 Manipur has witnessed escalating violence, resulting in the deaths of at least 130 people and leaving 400 others wounded. The conflict has also led to the displacement of over 60,000 individuals. The violence includes clashes between various militias, including the Meitei, Kuki and Naga communities, and the Indian Army, paramilitary forces and police.

Roots of the Conflict:

The ongoing conflict has deep-rooted causes, with tensions initially triggered by the Meitei's demanding official tribal status. The Kuki's protested against this, fearing that it would further empower the Meitei's and allow them to exert influence over land ownership and settlement in predominantly Kuki areas. However underlying reasons for the conflict also include disputes related to the alleged use of a war on drugs to uproot Kuki communities, illegal migration from Myanmar, population growth leading to land pressure, and rising unemployment pushing youth towards various militias.

Parties Involved:

    Historically, the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga tribes have been in conflict over territorial claims and religious differences. But the recent upsurge has led to clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which are primarily rooted in ethnicity rather than religion.

Gender-Based Violence:

One of the disturbing aspects of the conflict is the targeted violence against women. Reports indicate that a cycle of revenge attacks was triggered after fake reports circulated that a Meitei woman had been raped by Kuki militiamen. This resulted in reprisal violence against Kuki tribal women allegedly by Meitei mobs.

Government Response:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced criticism for his delayed response to the violence in Manipur. He condemned the incident and promised that the perpetrators would be held accountable after videos emerged of the attack on the Kuki woman. The central government deployed 40,000 troops, paramilitary forces and police in the region to quell the violence.

Political Landscape:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, governs both India and the state of Manipur. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, a Meitei-led state government that has faced accusations of targeting Kuki areas during anti-drug operations, has created tensions with the Kuki community.

Conclusion:

The ongoing conflict in Manipur has caused a significant loss of life and displacement, primarily driven by territorial and ethnic disputes between the Meitei and Kuki tribes. The situation remains tense, and despite the government's efforts to contain the violence, more needs to be done to achieve lasting peace and reconciliation between the communities involved.