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The new wave of attacks was triggered by the discovery of the bodies of six kidnapped individuals, including two children, who were taken by suspected Kuki militants from Jiribam district of Manipur
Security personnel during a search operation and area domination in the vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts of Manipur. (PTI Photo)
Manipur witnessed a fresh wave of violence last week, prompting Union home minister Amit Shah to cancel his rallies in poll-bound Maharashtra and forcing the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) DG to rush to the restive northeastern state to assess the situation.
The unrest also led to multiple rounds of meetings with Amit Shah and the security establishment to restore law and order. The Centre has decided to send additional troops to Manipur, with nearly 7,000 personnel expected to arrive soon, as per the order.
Meanwhile, a large crowd attacked the homes of several MLAs and the personal residence of Manipur chief minister Biren Singh. Several vehicles were damaged during the violence, and the situation remained tense.
“The security situation in Manipur has been fragile for the past few days. Armed miscreants from both communities involved in the conflict have been engaging in violent acts, leading to a tragic loss of life and disruption of public order. All security forces have been instructed to take necessary steps to restore peace and order. Strict action will be taken against anyone engaging in violent or disruptive activities. Important cases have been handed over to the NIA for effective investigation,” the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a press statement.
The MHA has also extended operational control of Army by extending jurisdiction of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in areas of six police stations.
What Triggered Violence On November 7
The new wave of attacks was triggered by the discovery of the bodies of six kidnapped individuals, including two children, who were taken by suspected Kuki militants from Jiribam district of Manipur.
When the nation was celebrating Chhath Puja on November 7, an armed group of Meiteis attacked Zairawn village, allegedly raping and killing a woman, then setting the school on fire. Sources reported that the woman was almost completely burned. After committing the horrific crime, the group set several houses of the village on fire.
There were allegations from the Kuki side that the CRPF did not intervene, even though the force could have protected the village.
Following the attack on November 7, the situation escalated when a group of suspected Kuki militants attacked a Meitei group in the same district.
Retaliation On November 11
Ten suspected Kuki militants were killed by the CRPF in Jiribam’s Borobekra on November 11. However, the same day, suspected Kuki militants abducted six members of a Meitei family, killing two elderly individuals.
“On November 11, 2024, between 2:30 and 3 pm, Borobekra Police Station, where internally displaced persons (IDPs) were sheltered, and the CRPF post located nearby at Jakuradhor in Jiribam District, were simultaneously attacked by militants armed with sophisticated weapons, including RPGs and automatic firearms. Some nearby houses were damaged and set on fire in the attack,” clarified the Manipur Police.
The civil police and the CRPF “retaliated strongly”. “After 40-45 minutes of heavy gunfire, the situation was brought under control. Once the firing stopped, the area was searched, and 10 bodies of armed militants in military fatigues were recovered, along with war-like arms and ammunition, including three AKs, four SLRs, two INSAS rifles, one RPG, one pump-action gun, bulletproof helmets, and magazines. Two of these weapons had been looted from a police armoury. The armed militants were not ambushed but were killed during the retaliatory fire by the security forces,” said Manipur police. “Had the security forces not retaliated, the damage could have been much worse”.
The militants were identified as coming from the distant Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts and had travelled long distances to execute these attacks.
During the assault, one CRPF constable, Sanjeev Kumar, was injured by a bullet and was evacuated to Silchar Medical College, Assam, where he is receiving treatment, the police added.
Reinforcement teams consisting of Assam Rifles, CRPF, and civil police were deployed to the area. Operations in and around Jakuradhor, under the Borobekra Police Station, continue to flush out armed militants. After the attack, 13 IDP civilians went missing. Later, three IDP civilians were rescued from Guakhal by Police and Assam Rifles. During further searches in Jakuradhor village, which had been set on fire by the armed militants, two dead bodies of civilian IDPs were found. They were identified as Maibam Kesho Singh (75) and Laishram Barel (61) of Modhupur. “One other person was found alive and rescued, and another civilian IDP (internally displaced person) returned to the police station on his own. Currently, six IDP civilians, including three women and three children, are still missing. Search operations are ongoing,” added the Manipur Police.
What Happened On The Weekend?
The main violence intensified after bodies were found floating in a river. It was later confirmed that these bodies belonged to the abducted family. On November 15, two bodies were found and another was recovered on the same day at night. On November 16, three bodies were later discovered in a river.
Following this, several churches were set on fire by different groups. MLAs’ houses were attacked and curfews were imposed along with the Internet ban in different parts of Manipur.
What Are The Ethnic Fault lines In Manipur?
The state comprises two distinct communities Meiteis, which form a little more than half of the population, and live in the Imphal Valley, while the tribals, Kukis and Nagas are nearly 40%, 25% and 15%, respectively, and reside in the hill districts.
Meiteis are predominantly Hindus; 8% of the Meiteis are Muslims called Meitei Pangals. The Meiteis are better represented in businesses and politics of the state than Kukis and Nagas.
Kukis, who are mostly Christians, are spread all over the northeast and Myanmar. Most of them migrated from Myanmar several decades ago, and were initially settled by Meitei kings in the hills of Manipur.
During the insurgency in Nagaland, Naga militants claimed that Kukis were settled in areas that must be part of a separate Naga state. In 1993, Naga and Kukis clashed which led to hundreds of Naga casualty. Although both the communities oppose each other but they are together against the Meiteis.
What Led To The May 2023 Violence?
Last year in May, violence triggered in Manipur when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised by tribals including Kukis and Nagas in Churachandpur district was organised to protest the Meitei community’s demand for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
During the march in Torbung, an armed mob allegedly attacked people of the Meitei community, leading to retaliatory attacks in the valley districts, which escalated throughout the state. The violence led to more than 160 deaths, and several injuries.
Another trigger was eviction of Kuki villages which the government said were encroaching on protected forest area. Sentiment against the Meitei community was ready to blow up and these factors provided enough sparks.
