Sunday, 22 December 2024
Sunday, 22 December 2024
April 14 2023: Manipur high court’s order leads to protests
On April 14, 2023, the Manipur high court directed the state government to recommend Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community to the central government, an order that later faced criticism from the Supreme Court.
To protest this demand, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur calls for a peaceful march on May 3.
April 27, 2023: Violence starts after chief minister visits Churachandpur
Unrest began a day before chief minister Biren Singh’s visit to Churachandpur when unidentified miscreants torched a gym scheduled for inauguration. This started a long series of tensions.
April 28, 2023: Curfew imposed
The state imposed Section 144 and suspended internet services in Churachandpur for five days as a response to the escalating unrest. Protesters and security forces clashed, with police using tear gas to disperse the crowd gathered in the Tuibong Bazar area. Despite an agreement with the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) to withdraw the protest, a mob continued to block roads and burn tires.
May 3, 2023: Tribal march turns violent
On May 3, the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) organised a “Tribal Solidarity March” across Manipur. Around 60,000 people took part, voicing opposition to the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
The protest turned violent in the Torbung area, with clashes between Meiteis and other tribal groups. In Saikul, Kangpokpi district, two individuals died of gunshot wounds, while 11 others sustained injuries.
May 4-10, 2023: Widespread violence and military intervention
The violence continued to spread, leading to large-scale property damage. Miscreants burned villages and there were reports of sexual assaults. By mid-May, centre deployed Army and paramilitary and a de facto partition was established between the Meitei and Kuki-dominated areas.
Reports indicated that over 200 people died, and the violence evicted approximately 60,000 individuals from their homes.
August 2023: Official death toll crosses 200
The official death toll reached 221, with 150 deaths reported in the first three months. The violence left 32 Meitei and 15 Kuki-Zo community members unaccounted for, adding to the ongoing concerns over missing persons.
Chief minister Biren Singh reported that approximately 4,500 weapons were stolen from police armouries since May. Around 1,800 weapons were returned to the police by civilians, either through recovery or surrender.
March 2024: Deportation of immigrants
As a part of response to long-standing concerns over illegal immigration, the Manipur government deported 77 immigrants from Myanmar, including 38 deported on a single day through the Moreh border check post.
This move aimed to address the grievances of the Meitei community, which had expressed insecurity over an influx of Myanmar refugees since 2021.
May 2024: One year of violence and protests
The violence of the past year, as documented by government records, resulted in the destruction of 4,786 houses and the damage of 386 religious structures.
November 11, 2024: Manipur unrest sees fresh wave of violence
Manipur witnessed intensified violence as per a report by the PTI with security forces seizing multiple arms, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). According to a statement by Assam Rifles on November 11, several operations were conducted in hill and valley areas to confiscate weaponry, which included 303 rifles, pistols, grenades, and projectile launchers.
November 12: Fatal gunfight in Jiribam district
As per a report by The Telegraph, on November 12, a major clash in Jiribam district resulted in the death of 10 suspected militants after they attacked a police station and a nearby CRPF camp. Security forces responded and after 40-45 minutes of heavy gunfire the situation returned to normalcy.
Police recovered weapons such as AK-series and INSAS rifles from the scene. The operation continued into the night with reinforcements arriving. A curfew was imposed in the district to prevent further unrest, following recent threats from militant groups.
November 12: Shutdown in Kuki-Zo Areas amid mourning
As per a report by PTI, Kuki-Zo organisations announced a total shutdown in hill areas from 5 am to 6 pm on November 12. The organisations expressed grief over the loss of “village volunteers” defending their communities and raised concerns over civilian safety amidst ongoing ethnic tensions.
Security forces continued their operations, with additional teams from the CRPF and Assam Rifles to maintain order in affected areas.
November 12: Search for missing persons
According to the PTI, six individuals, including three minors, were reported missing following an armed assault on Borobekra police station. Manipur Police initiated search operations, and unverified images circulated on social media allegedly showing the missing individuals in captivity. Also, two elderly civilians were found dead after the attack.
Police confirmed that militants used sophisticated weaponry, including rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), during the incident. The situation has led to increasing security measures across Jiribam.
November 13: Additional forces deployed
The Ministry of home affairs has deployed 20 additional Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies to Manipur. These centre airlifted these units, including 15 CRPF and five BSF companies, to the state following recent attacks.
This deployment supplements the existing 198 CAPF units stationed in Manipur, intended to address persistent ethnic violence that has resulted in over 200 deaths since May last year.
