Manipur marks 3 years of violence with rallies, gatherings

Rallies and public conventions were held at various levels in Manipur on Sunday to mark the third anniversary of the ongoing violence crisis erupted on this day in 2023.
Offering of floral tributes to deceased victims of the ongoing crisis was the common feature of the observance of the day even though the day was remembered with different themes in both Meitei-dominated valley districts and Kuki-dominated hill districts like Churachandpur and Kangpokpi.
It was on this day in 2023, the violence crisis erupted following protest rallies in the tribal dominated hill districts against the Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
The violence allegedly erupted after the burning of houses in one of the rallies in Churachandpur district spread like wildfire across the state.
The violence conflict has so far claimed the lives of over 260 people and has left 60,000 displaced. The conflict remains unresolved, with deep segregation, sporadic violence, and failed peace negotiations.
Thousands of people took part in one of the rallies carried out at Nambol in Imphal West adjoining Bishnupur district to mark the three years of conflict.
Participants in the rally raised slogans demanding implementation of NRC before the census, justice and protection of Manipur’s administrative and territorial integrity.
The United Protection Committee (UPC), an apex body of various civil society groups and local women bodies (popularly known as meira paibis) organized the rally to highlight the ongoing suffering of the people and to demand accountability and justice for the victims of the conflict.
Participants also raised demands like deportation of alleged illegal immigrants and rehabilitation of people displaced by the ongoing crisis.
They also called for justice on the recent incidents at T Kasom village in Ukhrul district in which three Tangkhul civilians were killed in an ambush by suspected Kuki militants and the tragic Tronglaobi incident in Bishnupur district in which two kids were killed in RPG attack by suspected Kuki militants.
They further demanded removal of central security forces from the state, and the resignation of the government, citing its failure to manage the ongoing crisis effectively.
“Life and property of the people must be protected. The government should maintain peace and law and order,” convener of UPC Thokchom Lamjingba said.
“This rally is not against the government, but to empower it to protect the people of Manipur and restore order,” he added.
He further asserted that without rooting out the “Kuki narco-terrorists,” it would not be possible to resolve the present crisis.
The Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) also hosted a public convention marking the completion of three years of the ongoing conflict at Shumang Leela Shanglen in Imphal.
Leaders and representatives of civil society organizations, women bodies (meira paibis), social activists, and academicians talked as resource persons in a convention held under the theme “Three Years of Manipur Crisis”.
Organisers said that the convention aimed to deliberate on the prolonged crisis and adopt public resolutions that would shape the future course of the movement and outline demands to be placed before the Manipur governments and the government of India.
COCOMI spokesperson Shanta Nahakpam told reporters “the public discourse is being held on the occasion of three years of conflict in the state in the context of armed attacks on the indigenous people of Manipur by what he termed “Kuki narco-terrorists.”
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Nahakpam asserted that it was strongly believed by the people in the state that the conflict continued with the knowledge of the India government.
He said that despite initiation of various measures to resolve the crisis like inclusive development and promote peace on the part of the state government, the conflict continued to persist without achieving its objectives.
Thousands of security forces were deployed across the state and they were conducting operations in the name of restoring peace but major issues such as free movement along highways and rehabilitation of IDPs remained unresolved, he lamented.
While in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts, the day was observed on different themes. In Churachandpur district, the day was observed as “Separation Day” with a large congregation while reiterating its demand for a separate Union territory for Kukis to be curved out of present Manipur.
The event kicked off with a mass singing of hymns while paying tributes to the deceased victims of the ongoing crisis.
In Kuki majority Kangpokpi district, business activities remained closed due to the total shutdown called from 6 am to 6 pm by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) in the district.
The committee reiterated its demand for separate administration of Kuki people “reminding the Government of India” while claiming that the Kuki community were “physically and demographically separated” from the Meitei community.
The gathering also offered floral tributes to the deceased victims of the tribe in the violence crisis at Martyrs’ Cemetery in Phaijang.