Imphal, Sept 15: Manipur has borne witness to a protracted bout of ethnic violence that continues to wreak havoc. The grim statistics tell a harrowing tale of the enduring turmoil. Since the eruption of ethnic violence on May 3, a total of 175 lives have been lost, with 1,118 individuals sustaining injuries.
Shockingly, 33 people remain unaccounted for, adding to the mounting human tragedy. Amid this chaos, the state’s police force has documented an alarming 96 unclaimed bodies lying in morgues, serving as a sombre testament to the unrest’s devastating toll.
The Manipur state government recently divulged a slew of stark statistics, shedding light on the far-reaching ramifications of the ongoing violence that has stubbornly persisted for over four months. Arson cases have been widespread, totalling a staggering 5,172 reported incidents.
These incidents include the destruction of 4,786 homes and 386 religious sites, comprising 254 churches and 132 temples. In an alarming development, the violence has seen the looting of 5,668 weapons from state armories since its inception. Remarkably, security forces have managed to recover only 1,329 of these weapons, leaving a substantial cache unaccounted for.
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Additionally, 15,050 units of ammunition and 400 explosive devices have been seized in an attempt to curtail the violence’s destructive potential.
According to official records, security forces have taken significant action against the turmoil by demolishing approximately 360 illegal bunkers within the state. These bunkers had been established as a defensive measure, effectively serving as a boundary between Phougakchao Ikhai and Kangvai villages along the Imphal-Churachandpur road. The aim was to maintain a “buffer zone” between the hills and the valley, guarded by security forces to prevent the escalation of violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
Meanwhile, the Manipur High Court has taken cognizance of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the International Meiteis Forum (IMF). The PIL seeks to challenge the credibility of the fact-finding report published by the Editors’ Guild of India on the ethnic violence gripping the state. The IMF further requests that the court prohibit any authority or agency from using the said report for investigative purposes.
At the core of this tumultuous situation lies the complex interplay of ethnicity and demographics. Meiteis constitute approximately 53 percent of Manipur’s population, predominantly inhabiting the Imphal valley.
In contrast, tribal communities, encompassing Nagas and Kukis, account for 40 percent of the population, primarily residing in the hill districts. The genesis of this strife traces back to a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organized on May 3 in the hill districts, initially intended to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
However, this protest quickly escalated into a full-fledged ethnic conflict, unleashing a wave of displacement and suffering that has left thousands in despair.
