On Saturday (January 27th), two people from the Kuki community were killed, and several houses and Churches were burnt down in the Khamenlok area, as per the Indigenous Tribal Leader’s Forum (ITLF).
ITLF alleges two men safeguarding their village got fired by the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force controlled by the Union government. This happened, days after a meeting of the Arambai Tenggol militia group (a Meitei group) with 37 MLAs and 2 MPs.
Burning Churches in Khamenlok
Khamenlok is a sensitive area which has two access points, one in Imphal and the other in Saikul. Several videos have emerged showing churches burning in Khamenlok and another group celebrating it. Some members of the Kuki community allege that the Arambai Tenggol militia group burnt all villages in the Khamenlok area.
As per The Wire’s sources, Another Arambai Tenggol group attacked the Senam Kom area of Saikul, leading to firing between village volunteers and the group for half an hour. This gunfight started yesterday morning around 5.30 am and ended at 7.30 am.
Protest in the border town of Moreh
On Saturday, a large number of Kuki-Zo people staged a sit-in protest, demanding the restoration of state forces and the reopening of schools in the Moreh area. The protest was organized by the Kuki student organization, Moreh Block and Kuki Women’s Union for Human Rights, Moreh, and was later joined by Moreh Private School Association, Kuki Inpi, Tengnoupal and Hill Tribal Council, Moreh, was held at Moreh Bazaar.
These organizations submitted a memorandum to Tengnoupal district’s DC, SP, and Assam Rifles CO to bring peace back to Moreh. In the letter, they mentioned five individuals were injured during violence in the town and are in serious condition. They are being treated at a hospital in Churachandpur.
The protesters alleged an attempt by armed militants to burn down three high schools in the town and delay tactics by the government in removing Manipur police commandos from the Tengnoupal district.
Background of Manipur Violence
The ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities has been ongoing since May 2023. In eight months since ethnic violence began in the state, more than 300 Churches have reportedly burnt down, 200 people killed, and 50,000 individuals displaced.
The clash began when began between communities over sharing economic benefits and quotas given to tribes (Kuki-Zo). On May 3rd, members of the Kuki and Naga communities who are inhabitants of Manipur’s hill and regarded as Scheduled Tribes launched a protest “Tribal Solidarity March” against Meitei who are also demanding ST status.
Reasons for Conflicts
Meities have lived in Manipur’s more prosperous valley region and have access to better employment and economic opportunities. Naga and Kuki live in poorly developed areas (hills). Additionally, the state government in February launched a drive to evict tribal communities from forests in the hills, saying they had encroached on government land which sparked anger among tribal people as they were being forced out of their homes. This development and economic imbalance is why the Kuki community is protesting.
And Meiteis are insecure as Kuki shows ethnic lineage with Myanmar’s Chin tribe. Meiteis are scared that they might get outnumbered by the arrival of refugees.
