12 September 2024

Manipur’s Escalating Conflict: Ethnic Violence, Internet Blackouts, and Student Protests

Ethnic Violence, Manipur Conflict, Manipur Internet Shutdown, Meitei vs Kuki, Rights, Student Protests

The ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur has escalated with renewed violence, internet blackouts, and student protests, as tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities deepen.

manipurr-sixteen_nine — The internet shutdown across Manipur was implemented on May 3. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The northeastern state of Manipur has been engulfed in a fresh wave of violence, with ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities escalating over the past few days. As of September 10, 2024, at least 10 people have lost their lives in renewed clashes, which span across multiple regions, reflecting the widespread nature of the unrest. Among the dead is a former serviceman, killed in Sekmai, close to Imphal, while five others lost their lives in Jiribam, near the Assam border.

The violence first flared on September 1, 2024, when bombs were thrown in the Koutuk Kadangband village, marking the first incident of its kind. An alleged drone attack in the same area resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to nine others, including an 11-year-old child. These incidents ignited protests across the state, leading to more clashes between the communities.

In response to the unrest, the Manipur government suspended internet and mobile data services across the state from 3 PM on September 10 until September 15, 2024, citing concerns about the spread of “disinformation and rumours through social media.” This move comes just a year after the state experienced the world’s longest internet shutdown, lasting over 3,050 hours.

Historical Background: The Conflict Between Meiteis and Kukis

At the core of the violence are long-standing ethnic tensions between the Meiteis, who primarily live in the Imphal Valley, and the Kukis, who reside in the hill districts. The Meitei community, comprising around 53% of the state’s population, has traditionally held political power in the region. However, their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status has been a major flashpoint in the ongoing conflict. The Meiteis argue that ST status would protect their land rights and give them access to reserved jobs and educational opportunities.

The Kuki community, on the other hand, has been advocating for greater autonomy, fearing that granting ST status to the Meiteis would lead to further marginalization and encroachment on their ancestral lands in the hills. The Kukis, along with other tribal communities, are demanding the creation of a separate administration, citing discrimination by the Meitei-dominated state government.

These tensions reached a boiling point in May 2023 when the Manipur High Court directed the state government to consider the Meiteis’ demand for ST status. The Kukis and other hill tribes protested, fearing that this move would open the door for Meiteis to access constitutionally protected tribal lands, leading to violent clashes that have continued intermittently since.

Internet Blackouts and Rising Tensions

The most recent unrest has prompted the state government to impose a temporary five-day suspension of internet services, affecting five districts – Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching. The government justified the suspension under Rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services Rules (2017), citing concerns about social media being used to incite violence and spread false information.

The Kuki Students’ Organisation has called for the restoration of internet services in the hill districts, arguing that the unrest is primarily confined to the valley, where the Meiteis reside. “Since the problem is confined to the Valley Districts, why should the hill districts suffer?” they asked in a public statement. Both the Kuki and Meitei communities feel that the blackout is an attempt to conceal the real situation in Manipur from the rest of the country.

There have also been accusations from both communities regarding the use of drones for surveillance and attacks. Allegations of drone strikes have added a new layer of complexity to the conflict, with each side accusing the other of using technology to target civilian populations.

Student Protests and the Disruption of Education

As the violence continues, students in Manipur have been severely impacted, with educational timelines being repeatedly disrupted. All scheduled postgraduate and undergraduate examinations under Manipur University have been postponed indefinitely, marking the second time in 18 months that academic activities have been halted due to unrest.

Student protests erupted in Imphal on September 9, with hundreds demanding a return to normal education schedules and the withdrawal of central forces, which they believe have failed to control the violence in the hill areas. The students, along with other protesters, attempted to march toward the Raj Bhavan but were met with resistance from security forces, resulting in clashes and the use of tear gas to disperse the crowds.

The disruption to education is not new to Manipur. In 2023, after violence initially broke out in May, the state government declared an extended summer vacation, closing schools for nearly two months. Despite partial restoration of internet services through broadband in late July 2023, many students, particularly from the Kuki community, struggled to access online learning resources. Some were forced to take their exams in district collectors’ offices due to the ongoing internet ban in the hill areas, while others left Manipur altogether to continue their education in mainland India.

The Political Fallout

The ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur has taken a toll on the state’s political leadership. The Kuki community has accused Chief Minister N. Biren Singh of being biased against them and has called for a separate administration to ensure fair governance in the hill districts. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has sought to reassert control over the state’s law and order apparatus, urging the central government to reinstate the Chief Minister’s office’s authority in this domain.

As the violence persists, several national commentators have called for a political solution, urging the BJP-led central government to intervene more decisively. Many believe that without a clear resolution to the demands for greater autonomy and protection of land rights, the conflict will only deepen.

The Way Forward

The situation in Manipur remains volatile, with no immediate end to the violence in sight. While the internet blackout and curfews aim to restore order, they have also sparked further discontent among the population. Both the Meitei and Kuki communities are entrenched in their positions, making dialogue and reconciliation increasingly difficult.

For Manipur to move toward peace, political leaders at both the state and national levels will need to engage with the demands of both communities, address the underlying issues of land and identity, and work toward a framework that ensures equitable governance. Only then can the cycle of violence and disruption be broken, allowing the state’s people to rebuild and move forward.