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photo-article-logo Thursday, 12 December 2024

How Manipur has bled for 19 months with over 200 people killed, 60,000 displaced and counting

From the initial protests in April 2023 to the latest round of violence in November 2024, here’s a quick look at key events marking the ongoing Manipur conflict

Our Web Desk Calcutta Published 13.11.24, 01:48 PM
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April 14 2023: Manipur high court’s order leads to protests

On April 14, 2023, the Manipur high court directed the state government to recommend Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community to the central government, an order that later faced criticism from the Supreme Court.

To protest this demand, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur calls for a peaceful march on May 3.

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PTI

April 27, 2023: Violence starts after chief minister visits Churachandpur

Unrest began a day before chief minister Biren Singh’s visit to Churachandpur when unidentified miscreants torched a gym scheduled for inauguration. This started a long series of tensions.

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PTI

April 28, 2023: Curfew imposed

The state imposed Section 144 and suspended internet services in Churachandpur for five days as a response to the escalating unrest. Protesters and security forces clashed, with police using tear gas to disperse the crowd gathered in the Tuibong Bazar area. Despite an agreement with the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) to withdraw the protest, a mob continued to block roads and burn tires.

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PTI

May 3, 2023: Tribal march turns violent

On May 3, the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) organised a “Tribal Solidarity March” across Manipur. Around 60,000 people took part, voicing opposition to the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

The protest turned violent in the Torbung area, with clashes between Meiteis and other tribal groups. In Saikul, Kangpokpi district, two individuals died of gunshot wounds, while 11 others sustained injuries.

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PTI

May 4-10, 2023: Widespread violence and military intervention

The violence continued to spread, leading to large-scale property damage. Miscreants burned villages and there were reports of sexual assaults. By mid-May, centre deployed Army and paramilitary and a de facto partition was established between the Meitei and Kuki-dominated areas.

Reports indicated that over 200 people died, and the violence evicted approximately 60,000 individuals from their homes.

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PTI

August 2023: Official death toll crosses 200

The official death toll reached 221, with 150 deaths reported in the first three months. The violence left 32 Meitei and 15 Kuki-Zo community members unaccounted for, adding to the ongoing concerns over missing persons.

Chief minister Biren Singh reported that approximately 4,500 weapons were stolen from police armouries since May. Around 1,800 weapons were returned to the police by civilians, either through recovery or surrender.

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PTI

March 2024: Deportation of immigrants

As a part of response to long-standing concerns over illegal immigration, the Manipur government deported 77 immigrants from Myanmar, including 38 deported on a single day through the Moreh border check post.

This move aimed to address the grievances of the Meitei community, which had expressed insecurity over an influx of Myanmar refugees since 2021.

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PTI

May 2024: One year of violence and protests

The violence of the past year, as documented by government records, resulted in the destruction of 4,786 houses and the damage of 386 religious structures.

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PTI

November 11, 2024: Manipur unrest sees fresh wave of violence

Manipur witnessed intensified violence as per a report by the PTI with security forces seizing multiple arms, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). According to a statement by Assam Rifles on November 11, several operations were conducted in hill and valley areas to confiscate weaponry, which included 303 rifles, pistols, grenades, and projectile launchers.

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PTI

November 12: Fatal gunfight in Jiribam district

As per a report by The Telegraph, on November 12, a major clash in Jiribam district resulted in the death of 10 suspected militants after they attacked a police station and a nearby CRPF camp. Security forces responded and after 40-45 minutes of heavy gunfire the situation returned to normalcy.

Police recovered weapons such as AK-series and INSAS rifles from the scene. The operation continued into the night with reinforcements arriving. A curfew was imposed in the district to prevent further unrest, following recent threats from militant groups.

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PTI

November 12: Shutdown in Kuki-Zo Areas amid mourning

As per a report by PTI, Kuki-Zo organisations announced a total shutdown in hill areas from 5 am to 6 pm on November 12. The organisations expressed grief over the loss of “village volunteers” defending their communities and raised concerns over civilian safety amidst ongoing ethnic tensions.

Security forces continued their operations, with additional teams from the CRPF and Assam Rifles to maintain order in affected areas.

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PTI

November 12: Search for missing persons

According to the PTI, six individuals, including three minors, were reported missing following an armed assault on Borobekra police station. Manipur Police initiated search operations, and unverified images circulated on social media allegedly showing the missing individuals in captivity. Also, two elderly civilians were found dead after the attack.

Police confirmed that militants used sophisticated weaponry, including rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), during the incident. The situation has led to increasing security measures across Jiribam.

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PTI

November 13: Additional forces deployed

The Ministry of home affairs has deployed 20 additional Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies to Manipur. These centre airlifted these units, including 15 CRPF and five BSF companies, to the state following recent attacks.

This deployment supplements the existing 198 CAPF units stationed in Manipur, intended to address persistent ethnic violence that has resulted in over 200 deaths since May last year.

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