Manipur Violence

Why in the News?

            The State of Manipur is registering fresh cases of violence with one man shot and 15 houses burnt.

Manipur:

1. The Northeastern state of India, sharing borders with Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam and international border with Myanmar (2 regions- Sagaing region and Chin state) with an estimated population of 3.3 million people.
2. The official language of the state is Meitei language.
3. The state has an agrarian economy with high hydroelectricity generation potential.
4. Manipur is famous for its Manipuri classical dance and credited with introducing polo to the Europeans.

What are the reasons for the Manipur conflict?

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Anti-encroachment drive conducted by the Manipur govt to check deforestation and illegal settlement of migrants from Myanmar in the forest lands.
                  2. Anti-poppy campaign - Poppy was cultivated by the illegal migrants from Myanmar, also called 'The New kukis'
                  3. The Manipur HC has directed the state govt to recommend the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry on inclusion of Meity Community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list, created a flash point for the violence because
      2. Meity community, majorly Hindu non-tribals residing in 8% of the plain regions constitute 60% of the total population sending 40 MLAs to the state legislature.
      3. The other tribal groups residing in the hilly areas including kuki tribes send only 20MLAs to the legislature.
      4. The tribal groups fear that Meiteis who are politically, socially and educationally developed, upon grant of ST status would usurp available job opportunities, acquire land in the hill regions and eventually push them out of the region.

What are the consequences of the conflict?

1. Violence against women at its peak was reported during the violence with hundreds of FIRs registered in various police stations across the state.
   • The leaked video of women paraded naked in the street of Manipur reflected the injustices advanced towards women in the state.
2. The death toll has reached nearly 100 with Meity minorities in the hill regions and tribal minorities in the plain regions attacked.
3. Injured and internally displaced persons have been shifted to relief camps.
4. 35000 Army personnel have been deployed in huge numbers with AFSPA in force.
5. Restrictions ranging from complete ban on internet to partial ban on internet and movement have been put to force.
6. Negotiation to restore normality at the bureaucrats, politicians, Civil society organizations has been carried out.
7. Demand for a separate administration has evolved from Kuki's side. This might also cause ripple effects in the Naga community of the state.
8. Has led to exclusion of tribal communities from the decision-making process in governance issues because, kukis refuse to work in govt. offices which are majorly present in Meitei-dominated villages.
9. Loss of trust with the government machinery over its failure to maintain law and order in the state.
10. The National Commission for Women (NCW) failed to act as an effective body by not visiting the state during the conflict and inaction in mobilising support for the victims by coordinating with the State Commission for Women.