“We felt a sense of security, but fear still gripped us”: Life of a Kuki student of Manipur University in 1st MR

The 3^rd of May 2023 marks the beginning of the on-going state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kuki-Zo. On that day, a riot that apparently broke out at the Torbung-Kangvai area of Churachandpur bordering the Bishnupur district in the valley engulfed the whole state within a few hours.

While a violent confrontation went on in the Torbung-Kangvai area, similar mobs began to storm other Kuki villages located in the periphery areas between the valley and the hills. In these coordinated attacks, the Kukis faced heavy casualties including deaths, bullet injuries, and destruction of houses and livestock in many of the villages and colonies in Imphal.

For the Kuki-Zo people in Manipur University (MU), it was a night to forget as we were hunted like criminals within the Campus itself. Until the unruly mobs stormed the University campus searching for the “Kukis” on that fateful night, MU was our second home where we built our hopes and dreams.

Perhaps, it was only because of the yeoman service rendered by the Assam Rifles in MU, under the guidance of IGAR(South), that we had a narrow escape leaving behind all our belongings. On that night, the Assam Rifles personnel led by Major Deepak K. did not only rescue us by taking extreme risks to their own lives, but also provided us shelter, food, and water.

In the early morning of 4^th May, it was time for the Assam Rifles to shift us to a safer place as there was fear that the mobs could attack the AR post anytime. So, 5-6 trucks were arranged to take us to the 1^st Battalion Manipur Rifles (1MR) which is at the heart of the state capital.

At around 5:00am, we boarded the fully covered army trucks and left for 1MR. Inside the military trucks, we looked at each other with an uneasy calm as there was extreme uncertainty along the journey. After driving for about half an hour, we reached 1MR at 5:30am.

On reaching 1MR, we stepped down from the trucks with a slim of hope visible in our eyes. A few of us took pictures and videos for memories. Anyway, we never knew that the violent riots would continue for so long.

It may be noted that Manipur had witnessed similar tensions between ethnic communities, but in all those in the past, the state government always overcame with minimum casualty, and never allowed it to turn into a full-blown ethnic conflict between communities. This included the mass protest against the extension of the ceasefire between Govt. of India and NSCN to Manipur in 2001; the violent protest for and against the visit of NSCN supremo Th. Muivah to his ancestral village in May 2010 and the subsequent demand for Alternative Arrangement that followed; the demand for Sadar Hills district in 2011; MUTSU’s state-wide protest against the unconstitutional reservation policy of MU with the support of ATSUM, ANSAM and KSO in 2016, and UNC’s protest against the creation of six new districts in 2016-17.

This time, it was meant to be different simply because the state government was complicit in it. In fact, as later disclosed by Meitei Leepun chief Pramot Singh and others, volunteers were already stationed in the periphery areas since the 2^nd of May, a day before the violence openly began. It was under such circumstances that the spark of the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign was ingeniously launched with the burning of the Anglo-Kuki War Centenary Gate.

Back to our story: when we reached 1MR, we could see a few hundred people who were already there since the previous night. But as we began discussing the plan to leave for our beloved homes in the hills, more and more desperate people thronged the 1MR gate. Soon, the number of inmates in this temporary relief centre increased from a few hundred to thousands.

Slowly, the hope of going home soon disappeared as the security forces in Imphal were said to be mostly engaged in rescuing desperate people stuck at various locations. So, the authority of 1MR provided us carpets to lie and relax on. We were also later provided with food enough to survive for the day. Till that time, we were somehow hopeful that the situation could be under control anytime. We were also informed that the Indian Army is likely to come in to take stock of the situation.

However, heavy smoke started piling up from different directions at around 11:00am. And not long after, we came to know that Haokip Veng, just a few hundred metres from the CM Secretariat, was under attack. This was followed by attacks on other Kuki-Zo-inhabited colonies such as Checkon, Paite Veng, Vaiphei Enclave, Langol and National Game Village, Mantripukhri, and so on.

As time passed by, we became pretty clear that the Manipur Police were taking sides by tacitly supporting the mobs instead of protecting the innocent civilians. Burning, destruction, looting, and worst of all, lynching and sexual harassment including rape and murder became quite an entertainment for a community who claimed to have 2000 years old civilization.

Our condition in 1MR was pathetic, to say the least. We survived with the bare minimum. As evening approached, women, children, the elderly, and the sick were allowed to sleep in the Hall. But the rest had to manage in the open field with the beautiful sky as our roof. During our stay in 1MR for about a week, inclement weather would often deny us sleep in the open.

Meanwhile, the sight of heavy smoke piling up from the burning of houses, and the sounds of explosions and beating of electric posts continue to fill the air. News about killing, lynching, burning of houses and churches, and villages being attacked by Meitei mobs led by Arambai Tenggols and Manipur Police Commandos continues to pour in. And with all these, our hope in the state government dies a slow death. Yet, we were still hopeful that the Central Government would do something to control the situation! Within a couple of days, there was unverified news about the imposition of Article 355 in the national television channels along with the appointment of a senior IPS officer as security advisor to the chief minister.

What is most childlike about us was, that every plane that flew above us, particularly those of the military, offered us hope. This was because we believe that the Central Government might have flown-in more Army personnel to save our lives.

When we thought our situation in 1MR was extremely pathetic, we came to know that the situation in other places, such as 2MR, CRPF Lamphel, etc. was much worse. Compared to them, 1MR is more spacious and has better fencing for security reasons. But, the sound of tear gas and mob bombs often scared us to our wit's end as we feared mob attack anytime. The most secured temporary relief centre in Imphal, we thought, was IGAR(South), and we were often jealous of those who were there.

The 4^th and 5^th of May 2023 were the most destructive days as most of the Kuki-Zo colonies and churches in Imphal were destroyed during these two days. In the same way, these two days were the days when almost all our belongings in MU were either burnt or destroyed. Whereas the residential quarters of professors and officers, and the hostels of PhD scholars were the main target, the rooms of PG and UG students were not spared either. The few items left behind during these two days of arson, and those hostel rooms which were skipped [mistakenly left?], were either looted or burnt later.

Whereas the mobs that stormed the University campus on 3^rd May were mostly outsiders, though led by University students, burning and destruction of properties in the next two days, and beyond, were carried out mostly by the University students.

Initially, vehicles left behind by the Kuki-Zo students and staff were burnt on the main road or nearby ground of the University. But books and other belongings were burnt mostly in front of the respective hostels and quarters. Later, those vehicles and properties left untouched during the initial days were stolen/looted instead of destroying them.

And sadly, the role of the University Authority seems to be limited to cleaning up the mess left behind by these miscreants, many of whom were students, instead of taking appropriate disciplinary action. Till date, there is no information about the filing of FIR, or actions taken, against those criminals. Instead, the University Authority claimed that there was no single untoward incident happening within the University campus. It even went on to claim that students from outside the state were safely evacuated!

For the teachers and scholars belonging to the Kuki-Zo community, our years of hardwork and struggle have been ruined within a few days. This includes our documents, certificates, research materials, books and other collections. And for the students, the hopes of graduating from a Central University were shattered.

Now, as we crossed a year since this violent conflict began on 3^rd May last year, we sincerely hope that this ethnic war will end someday, and normalcy will return. But the pain and trauma we faced, even in a Central University (MU) and in a high-security zone (1MR) will remain etched with indelible inks in our hearts. Maybe, they thought they had destroyed our intellectual property by destroying our books and research materials. But we will rise up again with the help of our Almighty!

By: Anthony Shongthu

(Courtesy: KSO Bulletin, Thingkho le Malcha, Issue No. 228, 6 May 2024).