Protest against ST demand turns violent in Manipur, curfew imposed in entire state

LIVE: Glimpse of Tribal Solidarity March in #Churachandpur called by All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) against Meitei Schedule Tribe demand today.

Why are the tribals of #Manipur protesting? #ManipurOnFire
(follow tweet threads for more info) pic.twitter.com/sy4f54qr18

— Dennis Lallienzuol (@DennisHrangchal) May 3, 2023

On Wednesday afternoon, the rally organised in Churachandpur district turned violent when the demonstrators clashed with a group of people in an area bordering Bishnupur district. As per reports, following the clashes, unidentified miscreants set fire to houses belonging to a particular group. However, there is no official confirmation of the details of any casualties. The Indian Express reached out to the SP of Bishnupur district, but he did not respond.

Following that, sporadic incidents of violence were reported in several parts of the state, including capital Imphal. Subsequently, the government imposed a curfew in the majority of the 16 districts, until further orders and suspended mobile internet services for five days. In Imphal city, there were several reports of homes belonging to tribal residents being allegedly attacked. The police resorted to tear gas shelling in most parts of Imphal, till late night.

The protest march was carried out in all the hill districts, including Senapati, Ukhrul, Kangpokpi, Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Chandel and Tengnoupal under the banner, ’Come now let us reason together’.‘Meiteis already enjoy SC, OBC and EBC reservations’, ‘Meiteis can’t eat all the pie and have it too’, ‘Meiteis are not tribals, they are SC, OBC & Brahmin’, ‘No protection for our land if Meiteis become ST’, ‘Tribals of Manipur Unite’, ‘We want 6th Schedule for our Survival, No 6th Schedule no rest’ was also displayed among others were displayed.

Following the HC’s directive on April 19 — to recommend for inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution of India — the state’s tribal groups had expressed their strong opposition. While the ATSUM, the state’s apex tribal body, announced protests against the directive, the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), the autonomous body empowered to monitor legislation and administration of hill areas of the state, unanimously resolved to urge the Government of Manipur and the Government of India to go for Appeals against the High Court order taking into account the “sentiments and interests/rights of the Scheduled Tribes of Manipur.”

Wednesday’s incident comes just days after violence was reported in the state’s Churachandpur district, following Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s planned visit to the district to inaugurate an open gym. The district’s resident Kuki tribe was protesting a government land survey in the Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forest region, as well an earlier eviction drive carried out as “part of the government’s initiative to protect and preserve protected/reserve forests.”

Chief Minister Biren has not commented on the violence yet. However, earlier in the day, he appealed for a dialogue on social media. “Things can be resolved through dialogue, instead of resorting to bandhs and blockades” CM Biren wrote on his Facebook page. On Wednesday morning, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar arrived in Imphal, where he held an interaction programme with students and teachers of the Dhanamanjuri University.

While the Meiteis have long demanded to be included in the ST list, the state’s tribes— Nagas and Kukis — have strongly opposed it, arguing that it would further marginalise them. This rift is rooted in a deep fault line running between the valley (where Meiteis live) and the hills (inhabited by Nagas and Kukis). While the hills account for nine-tenths of the state’s geographical area, they are sparsely populated, with most of the state’s population concentrated in the valley. There has been a perception among the hill tribes that Meiteis wield more economic and political power in the state.