Violence has broken out again within the Indian state of Manipur, giving rise to concerns about more lack of life as India’s general elections got underway on Friday.
There were reports of a gunfight between armed Meitei and Kuki groups in Tengnoupal district on 12 April, leading to injuries to a few Meitei insurgents, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.
In one other incident on the identical day, a Meitei-owned sawmill in Kakching district was burnt to the bottom.Â
On 13 April, two Kuki militants were killed in clashes in the Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district, which borders the Meitei-majority East Imphal district. Their bodies were reportedly badly mutilated. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum has condemned the killings in a statement, while alleging that Meitei militants were aided by central security forces.
India holds its general election across several phases, with Manipur set to vote on 19 and 26 April. Kuki sources told CSW that their community was considering collectively voting ‘not one of the above’ on the ballot paper to register their discontent with how prolonged violence within the state has been handled by the authorities and national government.
Around 200 people died, a lot of them Christians, when violence broke out between Kukis and Meiteis in Manipur last 12 months. Over 70,000 people were displaced and lots of churches were targeted.
CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said it was “very worrying to see that the continued conflict between the Meiteis and Kuki communities in Manipur has still not come to an end”.
“Distrust and escalating division between the communities have only been exacerbated because of the shortage of commitment by the central government to intervene in any meaningful way,” he said.
“With general elections on the horizon, and no clear solutions to the situation within the state, there appears to be no clear pathway to integrating these communities, or any plans for development.
“We urge the federal government to prioritise the needs of the people of Manipur and produce a whole end to the conflict which has resulted within the lack of lives and livelihoods, internal displacements and regional instability.”
