Issues Triggering Manipur Violence

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

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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

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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

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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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