Manipur, which was burning in the fire of violence, is now slowly cooling down. The reason is that here the teams of Army, Assam Rifles, Rapid Action Force and Police are stationed everywhere. The state government has also given orders to ‘shoot at sight’ the rioters.
However, even now the situation has not improved much. A senior police officer told the news agency that there is news of an encounter between the security forces and the rioters in the hilly areas. He told that these encounters took place in Kangwai in Churchandpur district, Phougakchao in Bishnupur district and Daulaithabi and Pukhao in Imphal East district.
On Thursday evening, rioters vandalized two shopping malls located in New Chekon and Chingmirong areas of Imphal city. So far more than 9 thousand people have been taken to safer areas. At the same time, many hundreds of people have been kept in the camps of the security forces. However, till now no official data has been released by the government regarding those killed or injured in this violence.
In view of the violence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday called Manipur CM N. Had a meeting with Biren Singh, Mizoram CM Zoramthanga and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
How did the violence start in Manipur? Why are Meitei and Naga-Kuki communities at loggerheads? Understand everything in question and answer…
1. How did the violence start?
On May 3, All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) took out ‘Tribal Unity March’. This rally was taken out in Torbang area of Churchandpur.
During this rally, a violent clash took place between tribals and non-tribals. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
By the evening of May 3, the situation worsened so much that the state government sought help from the Centre. Later, companies of Army and Paramilitary forces were deployed there.
2. Why was the rally taken out?
– This rally was taken out against the demand of Scheduled Tribe status of the Meitei community. The Meitei community has been demanding the status of Scheduled Tribe ie ST for a long time.
Last month, an order was given by Acting Chief Justice of Manipur High Court MV Muraleedharan. In this, the state government was asked to consider the demand of giving tribe status to the Meitei community. For this, the High Court has given four weeks time to the government.
After this order of Manipur High Court, the Naga and Kuki tribe communities were enraged. He took out a tribal unity march on 3rd May.
3. Why are Meiteis demanding tribal status?
The population of Meitei community in Manipur is more than 53 percent. These are non-tribal communities, mostly Hindus. At the same time, the population of Kuki and Naga is around 40 percent.
Despite having such a large population in the state, the Meitei community can settle only in the valley. More than 90 percent of Manipur’s area is hilly. Only 10 percent is the valley. The hilly areas are dominated by the Naga and Kuki communities and the Meitei in the valley.
There is a law in Manipur. Under this, the people of the Meitei community settled in the valley cannot settle in the hilly areas nor can they buy land. But Kukis and Nagas of tribal communities settled in hilly areas can also settle in the valley and buy land too.
The whole issue is that more than 53 percent of the population can live in only 10 percent of the area, but 40 percent of the population dominates more than 90 percent of the area.
4. Why the opposition to ST status for Meitei?
Kelvin Nehisial, general secretary of All Manipur Tribal Union, said, ‘The reason for this entire protest was that Meitei wanted Scheduled Tribe status. How can they be given ST status? If they get ST status, they will grab all our land.
Calvin claimed that the Kuki community needed protection because they were very poor, had no schools and survived only on jhum cultivation.
5. What do the Meitei community have to say?
– The organization demanding ST status to the Meitei community says that it is not just an issue of reservation in jobs and educational institutions, but it is an issue of ancestral land, culture and identity. The organization says that the Meitei community is under threat from illegal immigrants coming from Myanmar and neighboring states.
Meitei community says that this protest is just a show. The Kuki community is angry with the state government’s action to evict illegal immigrants settled in the forests.
All Meitei Council member Chand Meitei Poshangbam said, “They took advantage of the opportunity under the guise of opposing ST status, but their real problem is the eviction drive.” The drive to expel illegal immigrants is going on all over Manipur and not just in the Kuki-dominated areas.
Poshangbam claims that the Kukis have crossed the Myanmar border and are occupying the forests of Manipur. The state government is running a campaign to remove them.
(Input: Yudhjit Shankar Das)
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