Ethnic Violence and Tensions Between Meitei and Kuki-Hmar Communities
Ethnic violence has continued to disturb peace in India's northeastern state of Manipur, where tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Hmar communities have brought tragic consequences. It took a turn for the worse recently after gunmen abducted hostages while exchanging gunfire with troops in the Jiribam district, where a rocket-propelled grenade reduced the vehicles and homes to debris. This violence represents larger, ongoing conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Hmar communities, fueled by decades-long disputes over land, quotas in education, and access to government jobs.
Ethnic Clashes, Death Toll Rise in Manipur
Ethnic clashes in Manipur have killed at least 258 people and displaced more than 60,000 since last year, making it one of the largest law-and-order challenges for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Violence broke out on November 11, when authorities blamed the Hmar group, part of the Kuki ethnic minority, for launching the attack on security forces. Retaliatory fire by the army killed at least 10 attackers. The burning of homes and killing of civilians in the violence shows the growing divide between the two.
The Impact on the Kuki-Hmar Community
"We want peace, but if they attack us, we have to defend ourselves," said Khuma Hmar, a 55-year-old elder from the village of Zairawn. Hmar was surveying the aftermath of the Nov. 7 attack, in which a woman from his community was brutally shot, raped, and burned alive. Authorities blamed members of the Meitei community, who are the majority in Manipur.
Roots of the Conflict: Welfare Benefits and Ethnic Tensions
The conflict traces its roots back to the dispute over welfare benefits. The Kuki community is a predominantly Christian ethnic group that has traditionally been classified as disadvantaged, entitling them to certain state-sponsored benefits. The Meitei, a Hindu majority group, also sought those benefits, thus escalating tensions since May 2023. While Jiribam had remained largely peaceful, the situation in November deteriorated, with fears the violence could spread further.
Failed Peace Talks and Heightening Tensions
Despite representations for reconciliation through peace talks between the rival communities, the fragile cease-fire has buckled. Khuma Hmar accused the government of inaction and added that the tenuous agreement between the warring Kuki-Hmar and Meitei communities-which had allowed some semblance of peaceful coexistence in social life-has been shattered after recent attacks.
"The Meiteis tore it all apart," he lamented, pointing to the village of Mongbung, just 50 meters away from his own. The Meitei community denied responsibility, yet the escalation persisted, with retaliatory violence marking the pattern of revenge seen across the region.
Militant Groups and Security Concerns
Add to that the presence of armed militants in both communities, despite pacts between the two to end hostilities, and efforts to effect peace have become much harder to achieve. "We too want peace, but they should stop attacking us first," says Prosenjit Singh, a Meitei from Mongbung, who is just one of the victims trapped in this vicious cycle of violence.
Fragile Peace in Jiribam
This fragile peace in Jiribam was again shattered after the June killing of a Meitei man, which led to arson and tit-for-tat killings. Though some families were able to go back home after the peace talks in August, the killing in September again sparked tensions, and authorities now fear that more armed groups are mobilizing across the state. Security operations have uncovered armed militant cadres, a sign that despite agreements, the violence is far from over.
Hope for Peace Despite Continuing Battles
The dream of a peaceful Manipur continues to be a dream for many. According to Sandhya Devi, a Meitei woman from Borobekra, life had started to return to normal after August, but the continuing instability has made families uncertain about the future.
Way Ahead for Manipur
In a state where peace is increasingly unattainable, the struggle for resolution goes on and on, with no end in sight. Ethnic violence, communal clashes, and peace efforts in Manipur continue to challenge India's stability in its northeastern region.