Armed Conflict in Manipur

Nicholas Khundrakpam *

Manipur, a small northeastern state of India, holds significant geographical, cultural, and historical importance. It shares an international border with Myanmar, making it a strategic area for trade and defence. The state's topography is marked by the central Imphal valley, surrounded by lush, forested hills. This diverse landscape is home to numerous ethnic communities.

Culturally, Manipur is renowned for its rich traditions, vibrant festivals, classical dance forms, sports, unique art, language, and customs, contributing to India's vast cultural mosaic. Historically, Manipur was an independent kingdom with a rich history of trade and political alliances.

After the Anglo-Manipuri War in 1891, the British controlled major aspects of the state’s governance, shaping a frame to integrate Manipur into their colonial administration of India. India gained independence from British rule in 1947.

In 1949, Manipur was forcefully merged with India, an annexation rather than a legitimate union. This historic grievance has fuelled insurgencies and separatist movements. This historical trajectory continues to shape the political and social landscape of Manipur's identity and its relationship with the Indian Union today.

Despite its rich natural resources, Manipur remains one of the most underdeveloped states in India. Lack of infrastructure, unemployment, and limited access to basic services exacerbate frustration, especially among youth. The neglect of the northeastern region by central governments has led to feelings of alienation and discrimination. Corruption, lack of transparency, and the inefficiency of the local and state government have diminished trust in democratic processes.

As of recent estimates, more than 40 militant groups have been active in the state. These groups are fighting either for full independence or greater autonomy from India, often based on ethnic lines. Between 1992 and 2016, over 7,500 people, including civilians, security personnel, and militants, lost their lives due to the armed conflict. The number of deaths has declined, but the tension remains high.

Thousands have been displaced, and the conflict has devastated infrastructure, education, and healthcare in the state. The imposition of Indian laws, governance, and administrative frameworks clashed with local customs and traditions, further alienating the people.

Manipuri leaders’ calls for greater autonomy or independence were largely ignored, feeding resentment. The geopolitical game is the gift to the state, causing ethnic and intra-ethnic tensions, often fuelled by economic competition and identity politics, to further complicate the situation.

Imposed in 1980, the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), the draconian act, allowed the army to conduct operations without accountability, leading to allegations of human rights abuses. AFSPA is seen as an emblem of repression and has intensified anti-India sentiments. Manipur remains heavily militarized, with paramilitary forces like the Assam Rifles conducting counter-insurgency operations.

However, their presence has created a divide between the state and its people. The continuation of AFSPA remains a point of contention, with frequent reports of abuses, including arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, and sexual violence.

Activist Irom Chanu Sharmila's 16-year-long hunger strike against AFSPA, following the Malom Massacre, in which 10 civilians, including a 62-year-old woman and a 17-year-old National Bravery Award winner, were allegedly shot and killed by the Assam Rifles.

Thangjam Manorama, arrested on July 11, 2004, was found with torture and multiple gunshot wounds, indicating she had been sexually assaulted and brutally murdered while in custody. Such tragic events brought international attention to human rights violations in Manipur. Decades of conflict have left a deep psychological scar on the population, with high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression among both civilians.

May 3, 2023, marked a dark day in Manipur’s history when violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the Churachandpur district, following a protest march by All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) against the ST demand by the Meitei.

The march resulted in the destruction of properties over the controversial fact of burning the Anglo-Kuki memorial gate. In fact, the U.K. government verified that the Anglo-Kuki war never happened in the history.

The ongoing violence resulted in the loss of more than 300 lives, 60000 people have been displaced, thousands injured, 32 are missing, and 4786 houses have been burned. Still, the government of India is a silent spectator. The pre-planned idea of creating a separate homeland called kukiland, must be concerned as it poses a threat to the state and national territory and security.

Infiltration of illegal immigrants through the porous international territory leads to the drastic increase of new villages within the reserved forest. It alters the demographic structure of the state. Recently, the Govt. of Manipur started the “War on Drugs,” which caused mass destruction of poppy plantation sites in the hilly regions and eviction of those illegal encroachments in the reserved forest areas.

It created the tension between the state and the tribal communities, who rely on the forest for their livelihood. On the other side, mass deforestation for poppy plantations, which can be seen through satellite imagery, is responsible for the flash floods in the valley areas, which never happened in the past decades.

This violence became intense with the involvement of Kuki millitants, which are under Soo with the Govt. of India. When the Govt fails to protect the lives and properties of the citizens, citizens have the right to protect their own lives.

Thereby, the so-called Arambai Tengol, the revivalist organisation that aims to establish the pre-Hindu religion - Sanamahi among the Meiteis, becomes active again and takes up arms to protect the lives, properties and territorial integrity of Manipur. This conflict has victimised the poor civilians on both sides.

The violence in Manipur is not a result of a single factor but a culmination of deep-rooted historical, political, and social issues. Implementation of NRC with the base year 1971 to identify and deport the illegal immigrants, border fencing to avoid infiltration of illegal immigrants, and ST status for all the indigenous communities to protect their indigenous identity will be the ultimate solution to this ongoing conflict.