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Context:

Ten armed militants were killed in Manipur’s Jiribam in “retaliatory fire” after a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) post came under attack.

About history of Manipur:

Historically, Manipur was an independent sovereign kingdom ruled by Meitei dynasty but at different points of time it was invaded and ruled over by other states and authorities.

The Kangleipak State developed under King Loiyumba with its first written constitution in the early 12th century. Manipur under the 18th-century king Pamheiba saw the legendary burning of sacred scripture.

Manipur became a princely state under British rule in 1891 after the Anglo-Manipur war, the last of the independent states to be incorporated into British Raj as a princely state.

During the Second World War, Manipur was the scene of battles between Japanese and Allied forces. After the war, Maharaja Bodhachandra signed a Treaty of Accession merging the kingdom into India. It was made a union territory in 1956 and a full-fledged state on 21 January 1972.

History of ethnic conflicts in Manipur:

Period	Event	Details
British Era	Kangleipak Kingdom and Naga Raids	The Kangleipak Kingdom, a British protectorate, faced repeated raids from Naga tribes.
British Era	Introduction of Kukis	The British introduced Kuki-Zomi tribes as a buffer between the Meiteis and Nagas.
Post-Independence	Naga National Movement	The rise of the Naga national movement in the 1950s fueled tensions between Naga, Kuki-Zomi, and Meitei communities.
	Kuki-Zomi Movement	The Kukis began their own movement for 'Kukiland,' further dividing the hill and valley communities.
	Naga-Kuki Clashes (1993)	Violent clashes between Naga and Kuki groups led to displacement and loss of life.
	Meitei Nationalism	The Naga and Kuki movements fueled Meitei nationalism, with concerns over demographic changes and shrinking traditional areas.
	Demand for ST Status	The Meiteis demanded Scheduled Tribe status, citing economic disparities and job opportunities.
	ILP Demand	The demand for the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to regulate outsiders' entry into Manipur has been a major point of contention.

What are some of the historical factors responsible for violence in Manipur?

Issue	Details
Colonial Legacy	Divisionary Policies: British divided the region into hill and valley districts, fostering division. Introduction of Kukis: British introduced Kukis as a buffer between Meiteis and Nagas, complicating ethnic dynamics.
Post-Independence Tensions	Naga National Movement: The 1950s saw the rise of the Naga national movement, intensifying ethnic tensions. Kuki-Zomi Movement: Kukis sought 'Kukiland,' further dividing the communities. Naga-Kuki Clashes (1993): Violent clashes between Naga and Kuki groups resulted in displacement and casualties.
Land and Resource Conflicts	Meitei Land Constraints: Meiteis face land constraints due to hilly terrain and protected forests. According to STDCM(Scheduled Tribes Demand Committee of Manipur) Meiteis have been gradually marginalized in their ancestral land as they cannot buy land in tribal /hill areas of Manipur and are confined to 10% of the land. Tribal Land Rights: Kuki-Zomi tribes have stronger land rights in hill districts. Competition for Resources: Increased competition for land, water, and forest products between communities.
Political and Economic Disparity	Meitei Dominance: Meiteis dominate the politics and economy of Manipur. Tribal Marginalization: Kuki-Zomi tribes feel marginalized and underrepresented politically and economically. Disparity in Development: Uneven development between hill and valley districts exacerbates tensions.
Identity Politics and Cultural Nationalism	Meitei Nationalism: Strong Meitei cultural identity and nationalism. Tribal Identity: Kuki-Zomi tribes have their own strong cultural identities and aspirations for autonomy. Clash of Identities: Conflicting identities have led to violence and conflict.

Immediate factors which triggered Manipur violence:

Issue	Details
Meitei Demand for ST Status	The Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status has been controversial, with opposition from the Kuki and Naga tribes who fear it would diminish their rights and privileges.
Government's Response	The Manipur High Court's direction for the state government to consider the Meitei's ST status request worsened tensions. The government's perceived bias towards Meiteis, especially in land rights and resource allocation, deepened the divide.
Land Disputes and Evictions	Long-standing land disputes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, with recent government-led eviction drives, often targeting Kuki settlements, escalating tensions.
Social media and Misinformation	Social media has played a key role in spreading misinformation, inciting hatred, and fueling violence between the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities through fake news and inflammatory posts.

Impacts of the Manipur violence:

Loss of Human Life	In 2024, 221 people killed and 60,000 displaced. Over 1,000 injured, 32 missing, 4,786 houses burned, and 386 religious structures vandalized.
Violence Against Women	Incidents of sexual violence include assaults, burning of homes, and forced striping. A shocking incident involved the gang-rape and public stripping of two Kuki women.
Economic Development	Violence has hindered infrastructure projects, and exports of textiles, medicines, and food have dropped by 80%. Economic stagnation has led to increased poverty and unrest.
Social Fabric	Constant conflict strains intercommunity relations, causing societal fragmentation, displacement, and deepening social tensions.
Growth of Militancy	Prolonged unrest provides an opportunity for militant groups to expand their influence, leading to more extremist activities and further instability.
Tension with Neighboring Countries	The unrest may affect relations with Myanmar, Bangladesh, and China.
Challenges to India’s Act East Policy	The violence in Manipur could hinder India's Act East Policy, which focuses on strengthening ties with Southeast Asia.
Internal Displacement	Manipur accounted for 97% of displacements in South Asia in 2023, marking the highest displacement number due to violence since 2018.

Way forward:

The Manipur state government should urgently adopt measures to protect the security of all communities, especially those vulnerable, and de-escalate the violence. Local authorities need to ensure unhindered and adequate humanitarian aid to affected communities, permit access to the internet, and engage with civil society, including women from all sides, to address the longstanding issues between the communities.

The state government should work with India’s central government to provide redress for victims of abuses, including for sexual violence, investigate and fairly prosecute those responsible, and act to demobilize and disarm abusive groups.

Local authorities in Manipur should uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly in their response to the current situation.

Security forces should abide by the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which provide that security forces use the minimum necessary force at all times. In dispersing violent assemblies, firearms may only be used when other less harmful means are not practicable but to the minimum extent necessary.

Law enforcement officers may only intentionally resort to lethal force when strictly unavoidable to protect life.

READ ABOUT

Violence In Manipur

Assam Rifles

CRPF

Source:

THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.The ongoing violence in Manipur has resulted in severe humanitarian, social, and political consequences. Discuss the root causes of the conflict and its impact on the state's socio-political fabric. (250 words)