Manipur Violence: After female protestors in the Ghari district blocked both sides of an important road, there were reports of further violence in Imphal, Manipur. During the protests, the female protesters set tyres on fire, which prompted the police to intervene. To put an end to the protests, the Manipur armed police, Army, and rapid action battalion came to the scene. They carried out an operation to put out the fire and stabilise the situation. To keep the protesters under control, a flag march was organised in numerous locations.
Unraveling the Racial Tensions Between Kukis and Meiteis in Manipur
Since May 3, there have been racial conflicts in the state of Manipur between the Kukis who live in the hills and the majority Meiteis who live in the Imphal valley. The violence has already claimed the lives of almost 160 people. On May 3, a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was arranged in the hill areas to protest against the Meitei community’s desire for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation, which sparked the state’s outbreak of violence. The tribal population of Manipur, which includes the Naga and Kuki people, makes about 40% of the total population and is primarily concentrated in the hill regions, whereas Meiteis make up around 53% of the population and reside primarily in the Imphal Valley.
Arson, Looting, and Violence Plague Manipur Amid Ethnic Strife
There have been several reports of arson, looting, violence, and mob buildup from different regions of the states. A video from May 4 that surfaced on Wednesday as the state was attempting to resume normalcy showed two women from one of the warring groups being paraded naked by a group of men from the opposite side. The footage has sparked uproar across the country. In relation to the event, five people have been taken into custody. A day after ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state on May 3, the 26-second film documenting the experiences of the two indigenous women appeared.
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