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In May 2023, a highly charged ethnic conflict ignited between two distinct groups in Manipur, India – the prominent Meitei faction and the lesser-known Kuki community. Manipur, nestled in the country's northeastern region, accommodates a populace exceeding three million. This Indian state is demarcated into two distinct domains, with approximately 90% of its expanse covered by hills and the remaining 10% comprising valley plains. As per the 2011 census, the valley zones, predominantly inhabited by the Meitei, account for 57% of the population, while the hilly tracts, primarily occupied by the Kuki and Naga groups, are home to the remaining 43%.

Manipur's historical narrative is exceptionally intricate. Historical precedent reveals that the British colonial authorities invoked the "Divide and Rule" strategy, earmarking specific hill regions for the Kuki tribe. Paradoxically, the nomadic inclinations of the Kuki people needed to align with this legislative framework, giving rise to a cultural mismatch between their customary lifestyle and the newly enforced law. Conversely, the Meitei were allocated valley territories, conferring upon them a strategic advantage. Consequently, a sense of discontentment persisted between these factions, persisting beyond India's independence in 1947.

Initially designated a Union Territory within the Indian geopolitical landscape due to its pivotal significance, Manipur was elevated to statehood in 1972. Nevertheless, this elevation scarcely influenced the intricate dynamic between the Meitei and Kuki communities.

While previous instances of strife between the Meitei and Kuki groups have transpired, the current wave of violence in Manipur is underpinned by two pivotal catalysts. N Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur and a member of the BJP, adopted a policy aimed at safeguarding the state's forested regions from illegal migrants. In pursuit of this objective, the government initiated the abrupt evacuation of Manipur's villages, devoid of prior notice or justifiable cause. This decision fomented peaceful protests amongst the hill-based tribal groups, a stance the government swiftly labeled illegal. Tensions escalated with a clash between N Biren Singh's supporters and locals in the Churachandpur district, coinciding with one of Singh's rallies. Subsequently, the Indian government invoked Article 355 to assume control over Manipur's security, authorizing a shoot-on-sight directive.

Meanwhile, on April 20, 2023, the High Court issued a decree granting the Meitei community Scheduled Tribe status. This verdict, however, generated dissatisfaction among the Kuki and Naga segments, driven by concerns over the potential erosion of their political and economic influence within Manipur. The legislative assembly of Manipur is disproportionately weighted in favor of the Meitei, with around two-thirds of its seats occupied by them. Among the 60 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), a mere 20 represent the hill communities. Given Meitei's elevated educational status and existing privileges in employment and other sectors, a palpable sense of apprehension and discontent has taken root within the Kuki community.

Though historical conflicts were part and parcel of the interaction between these two ethnic factions, the recent escalation was triggered by a court ruling in March, bestowing "Scheduled Tribe status" upon the Meitei majority. This elevation entails commensurate economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education, paralleling those accorded to the minority Kuki community. In response to this verdict, on May 3, the All Tribal Student Union in Manipur instigated a Tribal Solidarity March, joined by local inhabitants. Regrettably, this peaceful mobilization was met with aggression from the Meitei contingent, culminating in mutual house burnings and the perpetration of diverse forms of violence.

Despite these events unfolding in early May, global attention and political scrutiny only crystallized on July 19, 2023. A viral video depicted the harrowing spectacle of two women being stripped and paraded by a mob of Meitei men, with one of the women reportedly subjected to gang rape. This disturbing footage stunned the world and compelled India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to finally break his silence. However, his intervention has yet to quell the escalating tensions. The atmosphere in Manipur remains fraught with restlessness and uncertainty.

Shrabony Akter, Research Assistant, Centre for Governance Studies