Thousands flee ethnic violence in India's Manipur

Nepal Views

Kathmandu: About 23,000 people have fled northeastern Indian state of Manipur, following the latest ethnic violence.

The latest clashes erupted between the majority Meitei people, who are mostly Hindu and live in and around the state capital, Imphal, and the mainly Christian Kuki tribe of the hills.

Violence erupted in Imphal and elsewhere with protesters setting fire to vehicles and buildings and, according to villagers, Meitei mobs armed with guns and petrol cans then attacking Kuki settlements in the hills.

The military has deployed thousands of troops, issued ‘shoot-at-sight’ order in extreme cases, imposed curfews and cut the internet.

The unrest in Manipur state erupted after a protest march by a tribal group last week sparked clashes, with vehicles and houses set on fire and authorities firing tear gas. Since then, at least 54 people have lost their lives.

Decades of Unrest

Tribal groups including the Kukis are unhappy about the prospect of the state’s majority Meitei community being recognised under a ‘Scheduled Tribe’ category.

This designation would give them a certain quota of government jobs and college admissions in a form of affirmative action aimed at addressing structural inequality and discrimination.

L. Sanglun Simte, 29, a Kuki who has been camping outside the airport in state capital Imphal with 11 of his family members since Saturday, recounted the horror as violence broke out.

‘We fled for safety. Things are not okay. They are just attacking us Kukis,’ he said.

Simte said his 49-year-old cousin, Siemcha Gangte, was killed by a mob on Thursday and his house was set on fire. ‘The attackers say we are outsiders and need to leave Imphal,’ he said, ‘When they attacked us. The local police didn’t help.’

Simte, who has booked a flight for Agartala, the capital of neighbouring Tripura state, said he would return only if security improved.

Lalpu Suan tak, 45, who works with a state-owned bank in Imphal and is also from the Kuki community, said he fled his house with 12 family members after some homes and a neighbourhood church were set on fire.

‘My house hasn’t been touched yet but there was fear when a mob burnt one house in our area,’ he said.

India’s northeast has seen decades of unrest among ethnic and separatist groups seeking more autonomy or even secession from India, with at least 50,000 people killed in Manipur since the 1950s.These conflicts had waned over the years, with many groups striking deals with New Delhi for more powers.