Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Sunday (April 30) saw some normalcy return, after it witnessed violence and high tensions in the two days following a mob attack on Thursday night. An open gym that was to be inaugurated by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday saw a mob burn the chairs at the event venue, where the CM was to also address a public rally after the inauguration. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which bars the assembly of five or more people in an area, and night curfew were also imposed in the Churachandpur district, particularly in Lamka town, which was the epicenter of the violence. To control the situation, mobile internet services were suspended for five days in Churachandpur and its neighbouring district Pherzawl – both dominated by Kuki tribes. The violence that initially began on Wednesday has come to reflect the simmering tensions between the Kuki tribal bodies and the BJP state government led by N Biren Singh. What led to the violence in Churachandpur? The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), based in Churachandpur district of Manipur, last week called for an 8-hour total shutdown in the district to protest a government land survey. The forum also announced non-cooperation with any government programme organised in the district. The bandh was to commence at 8 am on Friday morning, coinciding with the CM's visit. However, ahead of the shutdown, social media platforms in the state saw videos and pictures of a mob tearing down an open gym in the PT sports complex set to be inaugurated by Biren. The mob burned chairs at the Sadhavana Bhawan, where he was to address the public rally, located a stone’s throw away from the sports complex. Undeterred by the violence, Biren decided to go ahead with his planned visit. Demonstrators tried to storm the event venues, where officials and a significant number of people were waiting for the CM. Police used tear gas to disperse the protestors, who pelted stones at them in retaliation. In the clash, one policeman was injured and two protestors were arrested. Considering the tense situation, Biren called off his visit. The confrontation between the police and protestors went on till late night on Friday. The same night, some people set on fire a forest range office situated in Tuibong area, destroying properties worth lakhs of rupees. The arson attack prompted the authorities to impose a night curfew from 5 pm to 5 am in the entire Churachandpur district and section 144 from 5 am to 5 pm until further orders. What are Kuki groups saying? Tribal bodies, particularly the Kuki tribes, are unhappy with the land survey conducted by the state. The survey was carried out for the Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forest region. It covers an area of around 490 sq km and spreads across three districts, namely Churachandpur, Bishnupur, and Noney. The ITLF has now said they would continue non-cooperation against the government until it nullifies the 1966 government order that declared tribal areas as protected/reserved forests. Mon Tombing, the tribal forum’s secretary, accused the government of conducting the survey without the consent of the people and cited several lapses in the procedure. He sought the intervention of the Central government. The All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) said the violent protest in Churachandpur was not a spontaneous phenomenon but an outburst of growing dissent against the “adverse and regressive” policies of the present government. The ATSUM added that the forest and land survey has the objective of evicting villagers living in the survey areas and is a "direct affront" to tribal hill people. Kuki Student’s Organisation (KSO), the apex body of the Kuki student groups, termed the government attitude towards the tribal as "stepmotherly" and as one undermining tribal rights. What was the trigger for the groups? In February, people living in the K Songjan village under the Henglep sub-division of Churachandpur were evicted as part of the government’s initiative to protect and preserve protected/reserve forests. The village also fell under Churachandpur Khoupum Protected Forest. Villagers alleged that the eviction was conducted without any prior notification from the authority. The Kuki People Alliance (KPA), an ally of the BJP government, condemned the eviction drive and termed it inhumane, saying it was conducted without consulting the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), an autonomous body empowered to monitor legislation and administration of hill areas of the state. Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of the Kuki tribes, termed the eviction drive a violation of human rights and alleged it was carried out without any rehabilitation arrangements. In March, the Kuki Inpi had called for a peaceful rally to protest the eviction, but the rally in Kangpokpi district had turned violent. Later, the Biren govt had alleged that the protests were organised for “unconstitutional” purposes, and that the “encroachers” were using the land for “poppy plantation and drugs business". Biren also said the protestors were propped up by armed groups such as the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and Kuki National Army (KNA), and proceeded to withdraw the ceasefire agreements with the two. This led to increased resentment among the Kuki groups against the government. The ITLF said it was compelled to take up the total shutdown following the "indifferent" attitude of the government, despite having submitted several memorandums to the state airing their apprehension and grievances pertaining to the land survey. The shutdown was also supported by many Kuki bodies. What is the government of Manipur saying? N Biren Singh termed violence in Churachandpur as an internal matter of the district. The inaugural event of the open gym was to mark the one-year anniversary of the election of local MLA LM Khaute, he said, adding that he was invited by the MLA for the inaugural. “The inauguration of the open gym was not organised by the state,” he said. Nevertheless, he warned that stern action would be taken against those who are "anti-development and establishment". Meanwhile, speaking on the sideline of an event held in Imphal on Sunday, Union Forest Minister Bhupendra Yadav said it is the constitutional responsibility of the state to protect and safeguard its protected and reserved forest. Yadav said that as of the 1927 Forest Act, forests was a state subject but after the amendment in 1976, it came under the concurrent list. However, ownership of the forest lies with the state, he said. Citing the strong opposition in Churachandpur, the Union Minister said the state government is discharging its duties as per the law of the land.
