In November, Manipur's Jiribam district, located 220 km from Imphal, was hit by violence, murder, and retaliatory attacks. The clashes between the Meiteis and Kukis tribes, which comprise around two dozen tribes, have claimed the lives of at least 20 people, bringing the region back into the national consciousness. The communal turmoil in Manipur has long remained untouched.

On November 7, a cycle of violence began in Jiribam's Zairawn village, where a Hmar woman, a schoolteacher and mother of three, was allegedly raped, shot in the leg, killed, and set on fire by unidentified assailants. Kuki civil society groups blamed Meitei militants for the incident. The attackers in Hmar, who were reportedly Kuki militants, burned down 19 houses, looted cash, stole mobile phones, LPG cylinders, and killed village dogs. The Central Reserve Police Force failed to intervene, and the violence escalated when they targeted Meitei individuals in the same district.

On November 9, unrest escalated when a Meitei woman was killed by Kuki militants in Bishnupur, and two days later, the CRPF killed 10 suspected Kuki militants in a Jiribam confrontation. Militants, wearing camouflage and armed with automatic weapons and a RPG, attacked Borobekra police station and the CRPF camp at Jakuradhor, reportedly from distant districts dominated by Kukis in Churachandpur and Pherzawl. Three women and three children, including an eight-month-old baby, went missing during an encounter with 13 displaced Meiteis living in a relief camp near Borobekra police station premises.

In June 2024, violence in Jiribam, a multi-ethnic district with Meitei, Kuki-Zo, and Naga communities, led to the discovery of a Kuki teenager's body in a river, and a Meitei man's body, allegedly a victim of retaliation by a Kuki group, in a river. A viral photograph of the missing women and children, huddled on the ground, fueled anger and speculation. Meitei groups claimed the family was abducted by armed Kuki men. The bodies of a woman and two children were found floating in Assam's Cachar district on November 15.

Violent protests in Imphal led to the sacking of the homes of three legislators, including R.K. Imo, chief minister N. Biren Singh's son-in-law, and a BJP MLA. The protesters also targeted municipal administration minister Y. Khemchand and consumer affairs minister L. Susindro Singh, prompting security forces to use tear-gas. On November 17, violence escalated with the discovery of a child and woman from a missing family in Lakhipur. The six victims belonged to the same family. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum accused Meitei assailants of setting fire to five churches, a school, a petrol pump, and 14 tribal homes in Jiribam. A mob attacked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh office in Imphal East, followed by another attack on BJP and Congress offices in Jiribam town, resulting in one fatality and highlighting public disillusionment with the state leadership and the entire governance system.

The Responsibilities of The Government

The Indian state of Manipur has been grappling with a surge of violence, with MLAs from the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) adopting resolutions on November 18. These include urging the Centre to reconsider the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in certain areas, calling for a large-scale operation targeting suspected Kuki militants involved in the Jiribam killings, and demanding their classification as "unlawful organizations."

The state administration has suspended internet and mobile data services in seven districts in the Imphal Valley, imposed curfews, and reimposed AFSPA in six police station areas, including Jiribam. The Centre has deployed 20 Central Armed Police Forces companies and an additional 7,000 troops to Manipur. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has investigated three cases related to the recent surge in violence: the murder of a woman in Jiribam, an attack on a CRPF post, and the arson and killing of civilians in Borobekra. Civil society groups in Manipur, India, remain skeptical of the state's efforts to resolve the crisis. They urge all state representatives and MLAs to take decisive action, while Kuki groups demand the withdrawal of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from Kuki-dominated areas, reflecting the growing divide over security arrangements.

Rights activist Irom Sharmila has urged chief minister N. Biren Singh to take responsibility for the ongoing unrest and step down. The RSS, the BJP's ideological foundation, has condemned the killing of women and children in the Manipur region and urged both central and state governments to resolve the crisis. Rights activist Irom Sharmila has urged chief minister N. Biren Singh to take responsibility for the ongoing unrest and step down. The RSS, the BJP's ideological foundation, has condemned the killing of women and children in the Manipur region and urged both central and state governments to resolve the crisis. The Narendra Modi government has resisted the crisis, despite calls to replace Biren Singh or impose president's rule, with critics arguing that this reluctance stems from political calculations.

Nongthombam Biren Singh, a Meitei leader with significant influence in the Imphal Valley, is crucial to the BJP's strategy in the region, with 40 out of 60 legislative assembly seats in the Meitei-concentrated region. His removal could destabilize the party. The President's rule in Manipur could be seen as an overreach by New Delhi, risking the BJP's face and potentially causing the Opposition to seize the narrative. The state's proximity to sensitive borders with Myanmar and China also poses strategic consequences. The Centre is cautious about taking actions that may appear reactive or ill-considered, as this could embolden insurgent groups or create room for external interference.

Biren Singh is reportedly seeking to step down due to being reduced to a scapegoat with no authority over security operations. Since May 30, last year, Kuldiep Singh has chaired the unified command responsible for security decisions, further distancing the chief minister from critical operations. Rajiv Singh, an IPS officer from the Tripura cadre, was appointed as Manipur's director general of police. The Biren Singh camp claims that officers report directly to Union home minister Amit Shah, bypassing the chief minister. Despite the presence of the army, Manipur police, and nearly 20,000 personnel, violence persists with little accountability. Biren Singh demands control over unified command be transferred to the chief minister's office, supported by Meitei civil society.

The Union government's resentment is heightened due to Prime Minister Modi's lack of visit to the state and his reluctance to comment on the crisis, while Home Minister Shah has not improved. Despite the looting of over 6,500 firearms and ammunition, disarmament efforts remain sluggish. The Manipur crisis has sparked demands from civil society groups, including Meitei organizations like COCOMI for immediate military action against Kuki militants and repeal of AFSPA, while Kuki groups have renewed their demand for a separate administration, citing the impossibility of coexistence with the Meitei majority.

Critics suggest a broader political conspiracy, citing violence following Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma's US speech advocating for a "Christian nation" for the Kuki-Zo people, which proposed consolidating populations across India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Meitei groups argue this led to land secession for a larger Kuki-dominated region. The CRPF, responsible for maintaining peace in the state, has been accused of inaction and bias by both Meitei groups and Kuki organizations. Meitei groups claim the Assam Rifles were too lenient with Kuki militants, while Kuki organizations express distrust in the CRPF's ability to protect their communities. This lack of faith in security agencies has eroded stability, leaving civilians to fend for themselves in a state with no law and order.

The Origin of Violence

In May 2023, a wave of violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities began due to a court order against the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe category. This escalated into widespread ethnic cleansing, fueled by the Biren Singh government's efforts against drug trade and illegal forest encroachment, and allegations of illegal immigration among Kukis. The Kuki groups claimed they were ethnically targeted. Experts suggest that violence in Manipur is linked to the region's drug trade, with a parallel economy exceeding the state's budget. Unrest is fueled by factions competing for control over strategic geography in this illicit trade. Last year's violence in Manipur resulted in over 200 deaths and 60,000 displacements, with homes and neighborhoods destroyed. The violence spanned across Manipur's geography, with Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley and Kuki-controlled hill districts becoming enclaves.

The division between Manipur and Assam communities has worsened over the past year, with no signs of reconciliation. Both communities are vying for control over strategic areas like Jiribam, a crucial district for a national highway. The ongoing violence is another chapter in their ongoing struggle. The ongoing violence in Manipur raises the question of breaking the cycle of violence. Addressing issues of representation, resource distribution, and ethnic identity is crucial. The flames in Jiribam and beyond will continue to consume lives, homes, and the fabric of a state on the edge.

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