Issues Triggering Manipur Violence
Source : Indian Express
GS III : Internal Security

What is discussed under Issues Triggering Manipur Violence?

1. What is the reason?
2. About Kuki and Meitei communities

Why in News ?

The Meitei people, who inhabit the Imphal Valley and have a predominately Hindu majority, and the predominantly Christian tribes from the nearby hills, notably the Kuki and Zo peoples, engaged in an ethnic conflict on May 3, 2023.

Key Facts

What is the reason?

• Conflict is between the Kuki and Meitei communities.
• The Kuki community lives in the mountainous regions, while the Meitei community lives in the foothills.
• There is a dispute between the two communities regarding their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes.
• Kuki community believes that the Meitei community should not be included in Scheduled Tribes.
• May 3 protest was held in Manipur’s Churachandpur over the dispute and Since then the state has been witnessing violence.

What are the other issues?

• Since the reservation issues triggered the violence, there are other issues due to which the state is witnessing violence.
• They are reservation, religion, land, political representation etc also triggered the conflict.

What is the impact?

• More than 40,000 people have fled from the violence-hit areas.
• 80 people have died so far.
• Also raises concerns about the possibility of fringe elements becoming active.
• In this area, which shares a porous international border with Myanmar, smugglers including those who convey drugs are active.

Government Actions?

• The Internet has been banned across the state till May 31. And a curfew has been imposed in many districts.
• Indian Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed across the state.

What is SoO agreement or Suspension of Operations (SoO) Pact?

• The SoO agreement with Kuki was signed in 2008 as a ceasefire agreement between the Indian government and various Kuki militant groups operating in the northeastern states of Manipur and Nagaland.
• Kuki militant groups agreed to stop carrying out violent activities and come to designated camps to be monitored by security forces.
• In the agreement Indian government agreed to suspend its operations against the Kuki groups.
• UPF and KNO abide by the Constitution of India, laws of the land, and territorial integrity of Manipur.
• The groups are given arms only to guard their camps and protect their leaders.

About Kuki and Meitei communities

Kuki people

• The Kuki people are an ethnic group in the southeastern part of Manipur, Mizoram and Myanmar in India.
• The Kuki constitute one of several hill tribes within India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. 

Kuki National Army

• The Kuki National Army is a Kuki insurgent group active in Northeast India and northwest Myanmar.
• It is the armed wing of the Kuki National Organisation.
• They aimed at the idea of forming a Kukiland consisting of Kuki-populated areas in Myanmar, Manipur, Assam, and Mizoram.
• They have intercommunal violence between both the Kukis and the Nagas.

Meitei communities

• The majority ethnic group of Manipur, Northeast India, is the Meitei people, sometimes referred to as the Manipuri people or Meetei.
• The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur’s population.
• They are using Meitei language.
• The diaspora settled in other North-East Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizora.

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