By Dilemma Suantak
The ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur is widely believed to have been orchestrated by former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, and a few other influential figures from the Meitei elite. Multiple sources including leaked audio recordings allegedly featuring Mr. Biren Singh and ground reports by PUCL have detailed the origins of the conflict and pointed toward a premeditated campaign of violence and ethnic cleansing against the Kuki community.
In response to this existential threat, Kuki communities across Manipur were compelled to form self-defense groups known as "Village Volunteers" to protect their people, property, and ancestral lands from attacks by state-sponsored Meitei militias. Similarly, the Kukis in Tengnoupal District established the Village Volunteers Eastern Zone to safeguard their population.
Since the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023, numerous clashes have occurred across Manipur. It is estimated that 90% of these incidents were triggered by attacks on Kuki villages by armed Meitei groups reportedly supported by the state. Importantly, there have been no verified reports of Village Volunteers from Tengnoupal attacking Meitei villages or civilians. In fact, the Meitei population in Moreh was safely evacuated to Imphal without harm, and the only Meitei village in Tengnoupal District that is Kwatha has remained untouched by Kuki groups or Village Volunteers to this day.
Following the declaration of emergency on February 13, 2024, violence across the state, including Tengnoupal District, significantly declined. Many returned to their daily routines, and the general hope is that New Delhi will provide a political solution to this deeply rooted ethnic crisis. The Kuki community, having endured significant bloodshed and systemic atrocities, now asserts that coexistence with the Meitei community is no longer possible. They have formally demanded a separate administration, potentially in the form of a Union Territory.
However, as peace slowly returns, a new concern has emerged. The 5th Assam Rifles, under Lt. Col. Nitin Sharma, has allegedly begun targeting youths affiliated with the Village Volunteers in Tengnoupal. These actions have forced some volunteers to resume armed self-defense not out of hostility towards central forces, but purely out of fear for their safety. Despite this, no confrontations with the Assam Rifles have occurred so far, underscoring the Village Volunteers' intention to avoid conflict with central security forces.
Allegedly, the 5th Assam Rifles has fabricated various claims about the Village Volunteers to justify operations against them and gain personal or professional credit. In fact, more than 20 weapons, excluding locally made pumpis and IEDs, have reportedly been surrendered to the 5th AR as a goodwill gesture and in compliance with their demands to avoid further operations. Despite this, the harassment continues even against those leading quiet, peaceful lives.
The greatest fear among locals is that if such pressure and intimidation persist, Village Volunteers may be forced to rebrand themselves as an insurgent outfit, creating yet another serious challenge for both society and the government.
It is crucial that concerned authorities intervene before the situation spirals out of control. A measured and fair approach is essential to ensure peace, justice, and long-term stability in the region.
The ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur is widely believed to have been orchestrated by former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, and a few other influential figures from the Meitei elite. Multiple sources including leaked audio recordings allegedly featuring Mr. Biren Singh and ground reports by PUCL have detailed the origins of the conflict and pointed toward a premeditated campaign of violence and ethnic cleansing against the Kuki community.
In response to this existential threat, Kuki communities across Manipur were compelled to form self-defense groups known as "Village Volunteers" to protect their people, property, and ancestral lands from attacks by state-sponsored Meitei militias. Similarly, the Kukis in Tengnoupal District established the Village Volunteers Eastern Zone to safeguard their population.
Since the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023, numerous clashes have occurred across Manipur. It is estimated that 90% of these incidents were triggered by attacks on Kuki villages by armed Meitei groups reportedly supported by the state. Importantly, there have been no verified reports of Village Volunteers from Tengnoupal attacking Meitei villages or civilians. In fact, the Meitei population in Moreh was safely evacuated to Imphal without harm, and the only Meitei village in Tengnoupal District that is Kwatha has remained untouched by Kuki groups or Village Volunteers to this day.
Following the declaration of emergency on February 13, 2024, violence across the state, including Tengnoupal District, significantly declined. Many returned to their daily routines, and the general hope is that New Delhi will provide a political solution to this deeply rooted ethnic crisis. The Kuki community, having endured significant bloodshed and systemic atrocities, now asserts that coexistence with the Meitei community is no longer possible. They have formally demanded a separate administration, potentially in the form of a Union Territory.
However, as peace slowly returns, a new concern has emerged. The 5th Assam Rifles, under Lt. Col. Nitin Sharma, has allegedly begun targeting youths affiliated with the Village Volunteers in Tengnoupal. These actions have forced some volunteers to resume armed self-defense not out of hostility towards central forces, but purely out of fear for their safety. Despite this, no confrontations with the Assam Rifles have occurred so far, underscoring the Village Volunteers' intention to avoid conflict with central security forces.
Allegedly, the 5th Assam Rifles has fabricated various claims about the Village Volunteers to justify operations against them and gain personal or professional credit. In fact, more than 20 weapons, excluding locally made pumpis and IEDs, have reportedly been surrendered to the 5th AR as a goodwill gesture and in compliance with their demands to avoid further operations. Despite this, the harassment continues even against those leading quiet, peaceful lives.
The greatest fear among locals is that if such pressure and intimidation persist, Village Volunteers may be forced to rebrand themselves as an insurgent outfit, creating yet another serious challenge for both society and the government.
It is crucial that concerned authorities intervene before the situation spirals out of control. A measured and fair approach is essential to ensure peace, justice, and long-term stability in the region.
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