11 Months of Atrocities: Will PM Modi Finally Visit Manipur?

The state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign against the minority Kuki-Zo communities by the dominant community Meitei completes 11(eleven) months today. The ethnic pogrom which began on May 3 last year have led to the deaths of 170 precious lives including a one month old Baby Issac and many elderly persons. There are also about a hundred deaths due to lack of medical facilities in the relief camps and many more awaiting a desperate end.

Moreover, more than 200+ villages and (7000+ houses) 360+ churches have been destroyed and 41,425+ persons have been rendered homeless.

Among the victims of the current ethnic violence, many had suffered the most horrendous atrocities. The 7-year old Tonsing Hangsing, who sustained serious bullet injury in his head, was burnt alive in an Ambulance along with his mother and aunt by Arambai Tenggols and Meira Paibis. Similarly, David Thiek was brutally beheaded and his head was displayed on a fencing pole. Two young ladies working in a car wash were handed over by the proprietor to Meitei boys, who gang-raped and murdered them. In a more gruesome manner, two women were paraded naked by hundreds of Meitei mobs, predominantly men, who groped and gang-raped them in an open field. Mrs. Lucy Maring, a Naga woman, was shot multiple times in the head until it vanished. These instances represent just a few examples of the most inhuman atrocities suffered by the minority Kukis at the hands of the majority Meiteis since the onset of the ethnic violence.

Despite such inhumane treatment, it is extremely unfortunate that the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, chose to turn a blind eye during these 11 months. While it is highly appreciative of Shri Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, for visiting the state toward the end of May 2023, including the Kuki-dominated towns of Moreh in Tengnoupal district, Lamka in Churachandpur district, and Kangpokpi district headquarters, which resulted in the creation of a buffer zone between Meitei-dominated valley areas and Kuki-inhabited hill areas, it failed to yield the much-needed result of ending the conflict. It may be noted that on the day Shri Amit Shah visited Kangpokpi DHQ, at least three Kuki villages were burnt down by the Meiteis within the district itself. The Meitei armed miscreants also attacked the Phaileng village along Gamgiphai (Buffer zone between Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts) less than an hour from the time Shri Amit Shah took off from Kangpokpi.

Now that Shri Narendra Modi is included as one of the star campaigner for the Inner Manipur PC for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, it is expected that the Prime Minister will finally visit the state, albeit for election campaign. However, there is no more excitement among the people in both the hills and the valley.

Even if the Prime Minister finally lands on the soil of Manipur, he is unlikely to visit Kuki areas as the BJP did not put up a candidate for Outer Manipur. It is also unlikely that his visit would yield tangible outcomes in the Valley, even if he were to campaign for the BJP candidate for the Inner Manipur PC. Moreover, public opinion among the Meiteis is now heavily tilted towards the Congress, as its candidate, Dr. A. Bimol Angomcha, is seen as the ideal person to represent them in the Parliament.

[Un]fortunately, whether it is the BJP or the Congress, it carries no meaning for the Kukis. Firstly, as the BJP government in the state is responsible for all the atrocities and loss of lives and properties, its candidate, though highly respected by the Kukis, cannot be a choice. Similarly, the Congress candidate, Dr. Bimol, is such a communal academic that even the Meiteis should be ashamed if they elect him.

Regarding Mr. Maheshwor Thounaojam, he is young and energetic yet intellectually bankrupt despite being a popular actor in the recent past. Similarly, the quality of Mr. RK Somendro@Kaiku, another popular Manipuri actor, was exposed by his poor performance in the last Assembly (2022) and Lok Sabha (2019) elections. Recently, a video went viral showing Mr. Kaiku wearing a police uniform with Arambai Tenggol’s insignia, which indicates his lack of basic legal awareness or common sense, as this constitutes a grievous offense under Section 171 and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

As for the Outer Manipur, all four candidates being from the Naga communities, the Kuki voters had to simply choose the right candidate. In fact, it is the first time that the Kukis will support a Naga without putting up their own candidate. It may be mentioned that a similar situation was experimented in Chandel AC in the 2022 assembly election, where the sitting MLA, Mr. Letpao Haokip, who was also a Cabinet Minister, vacated the seat for SS Olish, a Lamkang Naga, who ended up winning with a huge majority.

Supporting a Naga candidate for holistic development of the hills, instead of voting along ethnic lines, will go a long way not only in fostering ethnic unity and harmony but also in defending the rights of the tribals against the onslaught of the majority community and the state. Here lies the hope of the Kuki Christian tribals, as their faith in the Union government is fading with each passing day. Anyway, the visit of PM Modi for an election campaign in the Valley will have little impact in the hills, as winning the Lok Sabha election, and not the atrocities the minority Kuki-Zo faced in the hands of the dominant community for 11-long months, will be his priority. 

(Courtesy: KSO Bulletin Thingkho le Malcha, Issue no.198, April 3, 2024)