Latest news with #Meitei-majority
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Manipur government orders probe into bus incident, Meitei group calls 48-hour strike
GUWAHATI The Manipur government on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) ordered a probe into Tuesday's (May 20, 2025) incident in which armed forces personnel allegedly made a team of journalists and information officials cover 'Manipur State Transport' displayed on a bus they were travelling in. The journalists and officials were on their way to covering the State Tourism Department-organised Shirui Lily Festival in the Ukhrul district, about 80 km from the capital, Imphal. The incident triggered anger in the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley, where an influential NGO called a 48-hour general strike and demanded the resignation of Manipur's Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Chief Secretary P.K. Singh, and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh. The order issued by the Chief Secretary read, 'The Governor of Manipur is pleased to constitute an inquiry committee to examine the facts and circumstances around the (bus) incident…' The inquiry will be conducted by a two-member committee, comprising Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar and Secretary (Information Technology) Th. Kirankumar Singh. The panel has been asked to look into lapses, if any, suggest measures to prevent the recurrence of such a situation, and submit its report within 15 days. Protesting the incident, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) announced the 48-hour shutdown from Wednesday (May 21, 2025) midnight. The group primarily represents the Meitei community. Apart from the resignation of the three top officers at the helm of affairs in Manipur, the COCOMI demanded an apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. It held them responsible for the incident, which 'undermined the identity of Manipur, its name, pride and respect.' The COCOMI also accused them of surrendering the pride, dignity, and legitimacy of the State to the 'narco-terrorist groups which have been openly threatening the people of Manipur.' It pointed out that no action was taken against a Kuki student leader and Kuki armed 'village volunteers' who had allegedly threatened Meiteis against attending the iconic festival organised after a two-year gap due to the ethnic conflict that broke out in May 2023. The incident occurred at the Gwaltabi checkpoint in the Imphal East district, about 25 km from Imphal. A group of 20 journalists were travelling to the Naga-majority Ukhrul district to cover the five-day festival, which the Governor inaugurated on Tuesday (May 20, 2025). The COCOMI accused the personnel of the Army's 4 Mahar Regiment guarding the checkpoint of 'erasing' the name of Manipur from the bus. The Army has not reacted to the allegation. Leaders of Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the State were on the same page in criticising the bus incident, demanding punishment for those responsible. The Shirui Lily Festival was expected to bring a semblance of normalcy in the State scarred by a long-drawn conflict between the Kuki-Zo tribal people and the Meiteis. The conflict, which broke out on May 3, 2023, killed more than 250 people and displaced some 60,000.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Extortion surges in Manipur amid lull in ethnic clashes, over 110 arrests in May
Extortion cases in Manipur's capital, Imphal, have significantly increased amid a relative calm in the ethnic conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities. With the temporary halt in overt clashes, various armed groups, including banned underground outfits and youth organisations, have turned their focus toward illegal fundraising, targeting traders, small business owners, government employees, and even schools. Over two years have passed since the ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023. Despite the imposition of President's Rule on February 13, 2024, there appears to be no comprehensive political or security solution in sight. The rise in extortion-related crimes, according to reports, indicate a deepening law and order crisis in the state. The increase in extortion-related cases follows on from last year's alarming rise in incidents involving bomb threats, gunfire in residential neighbourhoods, and actual explosions many of which were never reported to the police. In several cases, local women-led groups attempted to defuse the situation through peaceful protests, staging sit-ins and appealing to those responsible not to disrupt daily life with violence. However, it remains unclear whether these efforts led to resolutions or if residents complied with the demands by paying off the extortionists. Police officers, on the condition of anonymity, confirm that the majority of the extortion cases involve cadres from proscribed underground groups. The operations of these outfits extend beyond Meitei-majority areas, affecting Kuki-dominated regions as well, particularly in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts. The fear of reprisal has forced several affluent and prominent individuals to seek refuge outside the state. A retired senior administrative officer from Churachandpur, now living in New Delhi, shared his experience with HT under the condition of anonymity. 'Though I served the Manipur government for decades, I had to leave my hometown. I could no longer bear the constant ransom demands from different armed groups. It became impossible to live a normal life.' In 2024 alone, approximately 50 cases were registered in Imphal East and West districts related to gunfire and threats involving the planting of explosives in residential and commercial areas. In response, the Manipur Police established an Anti-Extortion Cell in October 2024 to focus on tackling the issue. According to Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) K. Kabib's earlier statement, more than 121 extortionists and over 215 members of underground outfits and gangs were arrested between May 3, 2023, and October 2024. The Anti-Extortion Cell is led by the Additional Director General (Law and Order) and includes all Zonal Inspector Generals as members. Currently, 15 'crack teams' operate across the state to identify and neutralise extortion threats. These teams work around the clock to restore security and instill confidence among residents and business owners. Despite these efforts, fear persists. Many victims avoid reporting extortion to law enforcement agencies, fearing retaliation. This hesitancy remains despite the police providing a dedicated 24/7 helpline and a toll-free number (1800-202-3326) for anonymous reporting. A resident of Palace Compound, Imphal, expressed his frustration to HT. 'We, the common people, are struggling. Maybe salaried government or private sector employees are somewhat secure, but for the rest of us, business is down across the board. On top of that, there are extortion demands. I'm scared, but I'm speaking out because we can't survive like this anymore.' She added, 'Many of us started businesses with loans, thinking that five years of hard work would lead to stability. But now, instead of progress, we're fighting just to keep the doors open. If we had to give money to one group that actually protected us, maybe we could live with it. But we're getting threats from multiple groups. It's unsustainable.' She questioned the authorities, 'What is being done to stop this? Are you waiting for us to shut our businesses and leave Manipur entirely?' Even educational institutions have not been spared. A government school headmaster said: 'In the name of protecting us from Kuki-Zo attacks, some outlaw organisations are demanding monthly payments from faculty members. This has become a routine burden.' Security forces have retaliated as well. In a violent incident on December 14, for example, Manipur police commandos shot dead a 16-year-old and arrested six others in Salungpham Maning Leikai, Thoubal district. Police stated that the deceased and the arrested individuals were members of the proscribed People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), and were allegedly involved in extortion activities. Manipur police statements have detailed that several other banned outfits, including Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), and various factions of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), such as KCP-People's War Group, KCP-Apunba City Meitei, KCP-Taibangnganba, KCP-Nongdrenkhomba, and KCP-Meitei Fingang Lanmi, are actively involved in extortion. The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) - Pambei faction, Revolutionary People's Front/People's Liberation Army (RPF/PLA), and the Socialist Revolution Party of Kangleipak (SOREPA) have also been named. In April, four individuals were rescued from the custody of a women's group, Armour of Manipur (AMO), and three of its members were arrested. The group allegedly demanded ₹5 lakh from the victims in connection with an elopement-related matter. As per Manipur Police reports, around 78 people were arrested for extortion in February 2025, and over 94 in April. In the month of May, until May 17, the number of arrests had already crossed 110. The number of arrests in connection with extortion has been reported frequently almost every day in statement issued from Manipur Police Control room. Following the imposition of President's Rule, security forces dismantled several bunkers along National Highway-2 in Gamgiphai, Kangpokpi district. These bunkers, manned by suspected Kuki-Zo 'village volunteers,' were allegedly used as extortion checkpoints targeting transporters and commuters. Phurailatpam Janaki, a 56-year-old resident of Imphal West, said: 'Since the 2023 conflict began, many youths have gotten involved in extortion under the guise of raising donations. Now, with fighting subsiding under President's Rule, we are seeing an increase in kidnappings for ransom, extortion from outlawed groups, and even youth and student bodies. It has become an easy way to earn money, taking advantage of the ongoing crisis.' As extortion tightens its grip on Manipur, ordinary citizens continue to bear the brunt of lawlessness. While some seek protection, others seek escape. Given this grim backdrop, the need for a durable political and security solution remains more pressing than ever.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Shutdown, mass gatherings mark 2nd anniversary of Manipur conflict
A statewide shutdown and mass gatherings marked the second anniversary of the ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities of Manipur on Saturday. Shutdowns, observed in both the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo-dominated hill districts, brought life to a grinding halt across the state. In capital Imphal, all government and private institutions, including schools and colleges, remained closed. Public transportation stayed off the road and business establishments remained closed. While the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) enforced the shutdown in the valley, the Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF) and the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) led similar actions in the hill areas. In Imphal, COCOMI organised a public convention at Khuman Lampak Stadium, where speakers urged the central government to ensure the 'free and safe movement' of all residents in the state. Thousands of people attended the event. Christened the 'Manipur People's Convention', it adopted a resolution accusing the Centre of failing in its responsibilities and called for an immediate and time-bound roadmap to restore peace and normalcy. The resolution emphasised that Manipur's territorial integrity must not be compromised. 'Under no circumstance shall the territorial integrity, historical identity, and political unity of Manipur be compromised. Any attempt, external or internal, to divide or disintegrate the state will be firmly and collectively opposed by the people of Manipur,' it added. 'We want to return to our homes and live a dignified life like everyone else. We are merely surviving in the relief camps. Given the situation that we are in, there is no future for our children,' said Khuraijam Abem Leima, an internally displaced person speaking at the event. In Churachandpur, thousands of Kuki-Zo residents gathered at the 'Wall of Remembrance' in Tuibuong to observe 'Separation Day', marking their community's continuing demand for a separate administrative arrangement. Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), said: 'Until and unless our demands for a separate administration in the form of Union Territory is granted, we will continue to fight for justice.' Lenminlal Gangte, vice-president of KSO Churachandpur, added that peace cannot be set as a precondition for resolving the conflict with the Meiteis. Another event took place at the Sehken Village burial site, where MLA L M Khaute advocated for political autonomy, again in the form of a Union Territory. More than 260 people have been killed, 1,500 injured and over 70,000 displaced since ethnic violence broke out between the Meteis and the Kukis on May 3, 2023.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Manipur marks two years of ethnic violence by remembering victims
Shutdowns marked the second anniversary of the ethnic conflict in Manipur as the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities remembered the victims of the violence in their respective areas of dominance on Saturday. Educational institutions and businesses in the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley shut down in response to a call by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a conglomerate of social organisations, to attend a public convention at Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal. People in the hills dominated by the Kuki-Zo group of tribes also observed a shutdown called by the Zomi Students Federation and the Kuki Students Organisation. At the COCOMI event, people offered floral tributes in memory of the victims. The speakers, including scholars, eminent personalities, and leaders of civil society organisations, called for peace, justice, resolution of the conflict, and the protection of Manipur's territorial integrity. The tenor of the Imphal convention contrasted with 'Separation Day', the theme of the anniversary event organised by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum, which has been batting for the rights of the Kuki-Zo people. The highlight of the forum's programme was the convergence of hundreds of people at the 'Wall of Remembrance' in Churachandpur to pay their homage to the Kuki-Zo victims of the conflict. Editorial | Ending the tragedy: On the Manipur crisis, a solution The emphasis of the 'Separation Day' was on the Kuki-Zo demand for a separate administration that has been gaining momentum since the ethnic conflict broke out two years ago. Security was heightened in different parts of the State, specifically in the Kuki-Zo and Meitei areas. However, no untoward incident was reported. The ethnic violence erupted on May 3, 2023, after tribals in the hill districts took out a solidarity rally to protest the State government's alleged move to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Meiteis concentrated in the Imphal Valley, which along with the Jiribam area, comprise about 10% of Manipur's geographical area. The violence left more than 250 people dead and some 60,000 others displaced. Most of the displaced people continue to live in relief camps. Such has been the impact of the conflict that the Meiteis and Kuki-Zos are ethnically partitioned, unable to venture into each other's areas. The Centre tried to bridge the divide by opening up the highways — Manipur's lifelines connecting the Imphal Valley to the country beyond through the Kuki-Zo inhabited hills — on March 8. The attempt, a month after Nongthombam Biren Singh stepped down as Manipur's Chief Minister on February 9, backfired and claimed a life in the process. Manipur has been under President's Rule, imposed on February 13 after the Bharatiya Janata Party failed to reach a consensus on Mr. Singh's successor. A few days ago, 21 MLAs of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the State wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding the immediate installation of a 'popular government' in the State. The Opposition Congress, meanwhile, demanded fresh elections as the 'double-engine government' and the President's Rule failed to bring back peace and normalcy in Manipur apart from ensuring free movement and the return of the displaced people to their homes.
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Manipur remembers victims on second anniversary of ethnic conflict
GUWAHATI: Manipur remembered the victims of the bloody ethnic conflict on its second anniversary on Saturday by organising different programmes in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki hills. People observed a shutdown in the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley responding to the call of an organisation, 'Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity' (COCOMI) to attend a public convention. A similar shutdown was observed in the Kuki hills at the call of two Kuki-Zo student organisations. COCOMI organised the public convention at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, where a large number of people turned up. The speakers, including scholars, eminent personalities and leaders of civil society organisations, called for peace, justice, resolution of the conflict and protection of the state's territorial integrity. The Kuki-Zo tribals marked the day as 'Separation Day.' The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum organised a programme at the 'Wall of Remembrance' in Churachandpur district in memory of the victims. A large number of people, including leaders from various civil society organisations, attended the event. The Kukis had raised pitch for 'separate administration' for the community following the outbreak of the ethnic violence and they have stuck to this demand. Security was tightened in different parts of the state. However, no untoward incident was reported. The ethnic violence had erupted on May 3, 2023, after a solidarity march which was taken out in the hill districts by tribals protesting the state government's alleged move to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the majority Meitei community.
