Manipur witnessed large-scale violence in multiple regions on Wednesday, where armed groups set fire to houses. Many houses were destroyed in several parts, including the Imphal valley, mainly inhabited by the Meitei community.
On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to the chief ministers of Manipur’s neighboring states including Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram, urging them to provide assistance to Manipur to resolve the ongoing situation. Shah requested their help in identifying core forces deployed within their respective jurisdictions for immediate deployment in Manipur to help restore order.
See also: Manipur Violence News
On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to the chief ministers of Manipur’s neighboring states including Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram, urging them to provide assistance to Manipur to resolve the ongoing situation. Shah requested their help in identifying core forces deployed within their respective jurisdictions for immediate deployment in Manipur to help restore order.
See also: Manipur Violence News
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Here’s everything you need to know about the reasons behind these violent clashes:
What sparked the violence in Manipur
- Manipur is bordered by Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Myanmar. Most of Manipur is surrounded by hills, with a fertile saucer-shaped valley at its centre
- It has 10 hill districts inhabited by various tribes. About 40% of the state’s 28 lakhs (2011 census) live in the hills
- Most of the Meitei community live in the densely populated valley: The majority of the state’s Meitei community, including the Meitei Pangal (Muslims), live in the smaller but densely populated valley, which has been considered the center of power since a time when the Meitei kings ruled the region
- In March 2023, the tipping point came with the HC order: There are 34 recognized scheduled tribes in the state, broadly under the Naga and Kukichin or Kuki tribal groups, which also include Mizos. , but the government has denied the charge
- The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) had been demanding inclusion of Meiteis in the ST list since 2013, a move opposed by tribal groups
- The Meities say ST status is not reserved for work and educationbut it is more about protecting the ancestral lands, culture and identity of the Meitei people threatened by illegal immigrants from Myanmar and non-native settlers
- Flashpoint came with the HC asking the state government to take action for Meitei’s inclusion in the ST list: In March 2023, the Manipur High Court ordered the state government to submit the necessary documents for Meitei’s inclusion in the ST list within four weeks. This triggered the ongoing riots
- All Tribal Students Union of Manipur called a protest: On May 2, All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) opposed the Meities’ request and called a protest in several hilly districts on May 3, which triggered clashes and violence
- The state had seen clashes between Meitei and tribal groups in the past on various issues
- THE tribal communities recently objected to a poll of reserved/protected forests, wetlands and clearing of villages in tribal areas by the state government
Clock Manipur violence: Why tribal groups are up in arms against Meiteis and what sparked the latest round of unrest in the state
