Manipur marks second year of ethnic violence with shutdown at various places

To mark the second year of ethnic violence in Manipur shutdown was observed at various places. The shutdown affected the normal life in the state.

The showdown was peaceful across the hill and valley. The Meitei community's leading body, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), called the shutdown in the valley region, comprising six districts, while the Zomi Students Federation (ZSF) and the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) have imposed the shutdown in the hill districts.

Shops, markets, business establishments, government and non-government offices, banks, and educational institutions were closed due to the shutdown, while most vehicles, except those of security forces, went off the roads.

Security was beefed up in the entire state for Saturday. The official said that both the Central and state security forces have also been deployed at key and sensitive locations to prevent any unwanted incident, and the senior officials are closely monitoring the situation.

Large number of people have gathered in Imphal's Khuman Lampak, where the COCOMI is organising a public convention as part of the observance of two years of ethnic violence. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), one of the leading organisations of the Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals in Manipur, marked the day as "Separation Day".

The COCOMI stated that the Manipur People’s Convention on Manipur Crisis, after thorough deliberation and collective assessment, unanimously stated Manipur was, is, and shall always remain an indivisible entity. Under no circumstance shall the territorial integrity, historical identity, and political unity of Manipur be compromised. Any attempt, external or internal, to divide or disintegrate the state will be firmly and collectively opposed by the people of Manipur.
“The People of Manipur categorically acknowledge and declare that the Government of India has either wilfully neglected or strategically prolonged the crisis in Manipur to serve its own national and geopolitical interests, thereby gravely undermining the rights, safety, and dignity of the native and indigenous people of Manipur. This Convention strongly rejects the recent statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which characterizes the crisis as merely a conflict between Kuki and Meetei communities and dismisses the involvement of terrorism and religious extremism. This statement is misleading, reductionist, and attempts to downplay the seriousness and complexity of the conflict.
The convention added, “The People of Manipur demand immediate and effective steps to guarantee free and safe movement across the state. The Government must immediately document and disclose all records relating to refugees, illegal settlements, and encroachments in the hill areas. This is crucial to understand the scale of demographic changes and illegal occupation undermining the state’s demography and security.Ensure the safe and dignified return of all Internally Displaced people to their original homes within a fixed timeframe. This must include full reconstruction of homes and provision of relief packages to enable dignified resettlement. The Government must release official status reports and provide due compensation and support to the families of the missing. Just as Mount Amarnath and Kedarnath are protected during pilgrimages, the Government of India must take equal responsibility to secure and protect the sacred sites of Lord Kongba Maru Laiphamlen, Lord Koubru and Lord Thangjing in the hill areas of Manipur, and ensure safe pilgrimage for the 2 million Meetei adherents. (Enforce the Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976.).”

Manipur has been under President's Rule since February 13.The 60-member Manipur Assembly, which, after the promulgation of President's Rule, has been put under suspended animation, has a tenure till 2027.

Over 260 people were killed, more than 1,500 injured, and over 70,000 people displaced after the ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo people on May 3, 2023, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March', organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Fencing border

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Friday reviewed the progress of the ongoing border fencing work along the India-Myanmar frontiers.

A senior official in Raj Bhavan said that the Governor at a high-level meeting reviewed the progress of the ongoing India-Myanmar border fencing work along Manipur. “Officials of Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) which is a unit under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO briefed the Governor on the progress and highlighted matters related to land acquisition, approach roads, fencing, security, manpower and other related issues. Deputy Commissioner of five border districts also attended the review meeting via video conference”.

Manipur Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Secretary to Governor, officials from Assam Rifles attended the meeting among others.

Another official said that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has stepped up India-Myanmar border fencing work near Moreh town in Manipur's Tengnoupal district last year.

The border fencing work was undertaken by ‘Project Sewak’ which is looking after road construction in Nagaland and Manipur.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has earlier decided that the entire 1,643 km porous India-Myanmar border, known for the smuggling of arms, ammunition and narcotics, would be fenced at a cost of Rs 31,000 crore.

Manipur shares a 398 km border with Myanmar while Arunachal Pradesh shares 520 km, Nagaland 215 km and Mizoram 510 km.