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Imphal, May 05, 2023, IANS
Imphal, May 5 (IANS): Infiltration from Myanmar, illegal poppy cultivation, drugs menace, militant outfits’ backing to certain tribal communities, differences in perception between the people living in valleys and mountainous areas besides complex demographic pattern are the offshoots of the prevailing unrest-like situation in Manipur.
The northeastern region, which presents a complex linguistic mosaic and has “jealously” preserved over 200 dialects, is home to 45.58 million people (according to the 2011 Census).
The indigenous tribes constitute around 28 per cent of the population and they mostly speak in their native language or their indigenous language.
Besides, a large number of non-tribals belonging to Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities, a reasonable portion of indigenous and Hindi-speaking people live in the region with different life-styles, cultures, traditions and languages.
Manipur has over a dozen militant outfits, whose cadres are mostly tribals.
Immediately after the March 10 tribals’ protests against the government’s eviction drive, the Manipur government unilaterally pulled out from the tripartite talks and Suspension of Operation signed with three Kuki militant outfits even though the Union Home Ministry is yet to give its approval to the state government’s decision.
The militants of three outfits — the Kuki National Army (KNA), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) — have been staying in the designated camp after the Centre and the Manipur government signed the tripartite agreement and SoO with these outfits on August 22, 2008.
Amid the widespread discontent over the eviction of the tribal villagers, three churches in Imphal were bulldozed on April 11 for being “illegal constructions” on government land, fuelling fire to the growing protests.
The region, comprising 8 states, has some peculiar characteristics which are different from other regions of the country.
In Manipur, there are 35 different communities with different lifestyles, cultures, traditions, language and food habits.
While the Meitei community mostly lives in the valleys and the tribals – the Nagas and Kukis, who are mainly Christians – constitute about 40 per cent of the state’s around three million population and inhabit the hill districts which account for much of the state’s land.
Tribals have been enjoying the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category status for decades since India’s Independence and they have always strongly opposed allowing others ST category status.
The prevailing situation in Manipur turned seriously volatile as thousands of tribals on May 3 turned up in the rallies called by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) in all the 10 hill districts to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST category.
The Meitei community — mostly Hindu, which dominate the non-tribal population in Manipur, have been demanding ST status for decades, alleging infiltration from Myanmar and Bangladesh, destroying the demographic pattern.
Notably, the fertile and resourceful valley areas make up around one tenth of the total land mass of Manipur, while the surrounding mountainous areas, known for militants’ hide-outs and home to decades-old insurgency, account for 90 per cent of the state’s lands.
The government in Manipur, irrespective of which party comes to power in the state, has always been dominated by non-tribal Meiteis, who account for about 53 per cent of the state’s population.
In the current 60-member Manipur assembly, there are 10 MLAs, including BJP’s five legislators belonging to Kuki tribes, while the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA), which is an ally of the ruling BJP, has two MLAs.
The Naga People’s Front with five legislators is also the partner of the BJP-led government.
Around 4.50 lakh people, belonging to Meitei communities, also live in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland and other states in India.
Following the April 3 rally, clashes, attacks, counter-attacks among different communities and burning of houses and shops took place in different districts, forcing authorities to suspend mobile Internet services for five days, while a night curfew was also imposed in several tension-ridden mountainous districts, including Imphal West, Bishnupur, Jiribam, Tenugopal, and Churachandpur.
The state government on April 3 night requisitioned the Army and Assam Rifles to control the ethnic violence in at least six districts.
Earlier, tribals protested against the state government’s action to evict them from forest lands and destruction of illegal poppy cultivation in the reserve and protected forests and organised protest rallies on March 10 in three districts — Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal, during which five people were injured.
Incidents of violence, including arson and vandalisation of government properties, were triggered on April 27 in Churachandpur district after the tribals launched fresh protests against the state government’s action against illegal poppy cultivation.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh cancelled his April 28 visit to Churachandpur district, where prohibitory orders have been clamped and mobile internet services suspended following the April violence in which “miscreants” set afire the venue, burnt chairs and damaged other materials.
Varied reactions, measures in other NE states:
The violence in Manipur caused reactions in the neighbouring states as thousands of students of different northeastern states are studying in the state while a large number of Manipuris, including those of the Meitei community, are also living in states around.
Tribals belonging to Naga and Kuki communities, though mostly inhabiting in Nagaland and Manipur, are also living in other northeastern states.
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, in a letter to his Manipur counterpart N. Biren Singh, said that he is deeply pained by the violence that has flared up in parts of Manipur and the underlying tension between the Meitei community and tribals there.
“At a time when our two states are already facing issues as a result of the political situation in Myanmar and Bangladesh and the lingering effects of Covid-19, including the prospect of a new wave with more and more cases being detected, such violence only makes things worse,” he said.
Zoramthanga requested Biren Singh to exercise his leadership that the people of Manipur know he is capable of and reach out to all parties involved to try and bring an end to this senseless violence.
He assured the highest cooperation of his government and the people of Mizoram as they pray for reconciliation and healing in the state of Manipur.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Meiteis, including a large number of students, held a protest in Guwahati on Friday in the wake of the violence that paralysed Manipur for the past three days.
Meanwhile, a section of protesters alleged that the Manipur government’s intention to implement National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state is behind the outbreak of the violence.
In the wake of the ongoing unrest in Manipur, over 600 people have crossed the border into Assam’s Cachar district seeking shelter, officials said.
“We have arranged temporary shelters at a few government schools in the Lakhipur sub-division area. Food and other necessary commodities have been provided to them,” a Cachar district official said.
Chief Ministers of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh separately expressed their reactions over the Manipur violence and asked their senior officials to keep in touch with the Manipur authorities to ensure safety and wellbeing of the students studying in medical colleges and agricultural university in Manipur.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is now in election campaign in Karnataka, said in a tweet: “Several families affected by the recent incidents in Manipur have sought refuge in Assam. I have requested the District Administration of Cachar to take care of these families.I am also in constant communication with the HCM N Biren Singh and have pledged the full support of the Assam Government during this hour of crisis”.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, after holding a meeting with senior officials, said that he had tried to contact his Manipur counterpart on Thursday night and even Friday morning but Biren Singh “could not take my call, perhaps he is busy”.
“However, I have instructed our Chief Secretary (J.K. Sinha) and the Director General of Police (Amitabh Ranjan) to be in touch with the administration in Manipur as around 150 students are studying there in the medical college, dental college and in the agriculture college. Tripura government has also opened a helpline number for proving round the clock support to residents of Tripura with respect to disturbance in Manipur.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, in a tweet, said: “I am deeply disturbed about the unrest in Manipur. I appeal to the people of Manipur for peace and harmony.”
“We have activated the helpline 1800-345-3644 for students staying in Manipur and for parents in case of emergencies. We are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of our students studying in the state,” Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma tweeted.
“We are bringing back our stranded students and citizens through regular flights and chartered flights. We are closely in touch with the central and state governments, security agencies to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made for the safe return of our students and citizens,” Sangma told the media.
Taking to Twitter, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said: “Deeply pained over the violence in Manipur, which has displaced several families. In this hour of crisis, we are with the people of Manipur and HCM Shri N. Biren Singh ji and extend support to every step aimed restoring peace and bonhomie in the state.
“Dialogue is the best way to resolve all differences and grievances in a democratic set up. My special thanks and gratitude to HCM Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma ji for his kind interventions in ensuring the affected families are taken care of if they take shelter in the state. I am hopeful the peace will soon return to Manipur, a great land of diversity, fraternity and compassion.”
The Meghalaya government has started evacuating students and civilians from violence-hit Manipur. State Health and Family Welfare and Law Minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh said on Friday that 64 students were evacuated from Manipur to Guwahati airport in Assam and eight more students would be evacuated on Saturday morning, while another 36 more would be shifted on Sunday.
The efforts to evacuate the students and civilians of Meghalaya from Manipur would continue till normalcy returns in that state.
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