In India's northeastern state of Manipur, ethnoreligious violence has escalated dramatically, resulting in the deaths of twenty people over the past two weeks.
The ongoing conflict between the majority Hindu Meitei community and the minority Christian Kuki community has caused significant turmoil, displacing more than 60,000 individuals since May 2023.
The recent clashes have disrupted hopes for peace, with reports of burned churches, fatalities among children, and security forces' difficulties in maintaining order.
The violence has created a stark divide between the communities, prompting 50,000 Kuki Christians to flee the Imphal valley, while 10,000 Meiteis have abandoned their residences in areas predominantly inhabited by Kukis.
This surge of violence began in Jiribam, close to the Assam border, following a series of retaliatory killings that started with the murder of a young Kuki woman whose body was discovered in a river. Tensions intensified after a Christian teacher and mother of three was killed and his body set ablaze in an attack attributed to Meiteis.
This incident led to a deadly confrontation between armed Kukis and security forces, resulting in the deaths of ten Kuki attackers.
On November 16, the situation worsened when six Meiteis, including three children, were found dead. In retaliation, protesters set fire to Kuki homes and six churches in Jiribam, while mobs in Imphal targeted government officials' residences. In response to the escalating violence, authorities imposed curfews, suspended internet access, and closed schools.
“People are living in fear and tension. They don’t know what will happen next,” a senior Meitei church leader in Imphal stated, as reported by Global Christian Relief.
The management of the deceased bodies has emerged as another contentious issue. Security forces airlifted the bodies of the ten Kuki Christians to Churuchandpur for burial, but delays by the government in releasing the bodies led to unprecedented protests. On November 19, hundreds of mourners dressed in black marched through Churuchandpur carrying empty coffins to honor the deceased and protest against the violence.
Criticism has been directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding his absence during the ongoing crisis. Observers note that his Hindu nationalist BJP party, which governs Manipur, has not succeeded in restoring peace.
Amid increasing frustration, a church leader in the region lamented, “We had been praying for lasting peace and were feeling relaxed. But this latest conflict has shattered the peace to which Manipur was returning. While many struggle for their livelihoods, the curfew has only worsened their situation.”
