Attacking the villages of Scheduled Castes

Birendra Laishram *

Since the onset of the Kuki armed offensive against the Meitei, attacks on Scheduled Castes have persisted, with insufficient protection from armed forces, violating Constitutional protections for these communities.

Numerous Meitei minorities have suffered attacks and property destruction, with no effective State intervention, undermining Constitutional integrity. One notable statement from the father of the Constitution rings true today: “However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad.”

The Constitution, under Article 338, mandates the establishment of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to ensure safeguards, inquire into rights violations, report to the President, and recommend protective measures for socio-economic development.

In contrast, the preferential treatment given to the Kukis does not extend to Scheduled Caste communities in areas like Phayeng, Tairenpokpi, Sekmai, Leimaram, Koutruk, Kadangband, Moirang, Senjam-Chirang and others, who are the only victims and only target of the Kukis; have been facing ethnic cleansing since May 3, 2023 till this day. This discrepancy raises doubts about the Constitution's applicability in the State.

In protest, seven women from the Scheduled Caste community in Sekmai shaved their heads and participated in a bicycle rally on May 3, 2024, criticizing the Union Government for its inaction even on completion of a year of ethnic violence.

This raises an important question for the population : Is the Union Government, representing the world’s highest democratic form, failing to uphold the spirit and ideals of democracy in the State ? Why we the Scheduled Castes are not equally protected as you have protected the Kukis ? Why you are defying the Constitution of India ?

The on-going conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities has escalated to alarming levels, more for the Scheduled Caste Meitei. This deep-seated animosity is further exacerbated by the troubling inaction of Govt authorities, who appear to be driven by self-serving political interests. The failure to intervene in this dire situation allows for the continuation and escalation of violence.

Continuous logistical support, which comes both from within the Nation and from international allies, plays a crucial role in fuelling this cycle of conflict. The nature of this violence bears a disturbing resemblance to ethnic cleansing, occurring in a relatively small but significant State of a powerful democratic Nation.

The perpetuation of such a crisis suggests the presence of a calculated and deliberate agenda orchestrated by those in positions of authority, further complicating an already volatile situation.

Since the start of the war, all the communities in this State have been caught in terrible situations within the buffer zones created by the Government. More than half of the workforce in the private sector is unemployed, and hundreds of business premises have closed their doors and left for other States to search for livelihood. Many families are displaced and have lost all their homes and possessions.

Many people may opt for burglary to ensure sustenance. The miseries of our homeless communities in the relief camps similar to the concentration camps are horrible to look at. Their traumatic, untold stories are so tragic and will remain unforgettable in the minds of the children. It is unbelievable that these displaced persons are unable to return home even after 17 months now.

Such a situation has never happened in any part of this democratic and fourth-largest country in the world. The Prime Minister has not spoken even a single word by himself as if it is happening in foreign countries.

Manipur is located in the Indo-Myanmar Range of North East India and is not a foreign entity to India, though it was an independent democratic country before annexation to India in 1949 without the acceptance of the State Assembly.

It is part of the Indian Union now. The recent dropping of about 60 bombs on the Scheduled Caste villages using drones is reported to have originated from Bethel village where BSF are deployed to protect both the communities living in this State. The inaction to effectively prevent the warring groups, we the civilians doubt if our lives and property are being protected by the Government of this country or are we not Indians.

The Constitution has given under Art. 338A to make a Commission for the protection of Scheduled Tribes. In the name of this provision, the armed forces might have paid special protection to non-indigenous Kuki being Scheduled Tribes, but why not to the indigenous Nagas, who are also Scheduled Tribes, nor to the Scheduled Castes settling near the hill foot in the ongoing ‘war’ ?

The Central Government must know the key factors contributing to the conflict, leading to the Meitei-Kuki conflict ;
where the initiatives of the State Government to curb illegal immigration;
where actions to halt deforestation for settlements and opium poppy cultivation in hilly areas;
where efforts have been made to combat narcotics trafficking; where initiatives like "Go to Hill" and "War Against Drug" are seen as threats by the Kukis;
where measures were taken up to stop the establishment of unauthorized villages;
where attempts were made to prevent encroachments on Meitei ancestral shrines at Thangjing and at Koubru Hills, with numerous incidents of temple demolitions;
where the Meiteis are disallowed to enter the site of the shrines without Government action against
(The Union Government agreed to protect the religious sites of Manipuri as signed in the instrument of accession.);
where the State Government has introduced several measures to combat this infiltration to stop unauthorised naming of villages;
distorting the history of Manipur and creation of new villages; rewriting State history;
engaging in narcotics trade and military preparations, which have escalated the conflict with well-armed Kuki forces.

Concerns arise that the Central Government has favoured particular militants to counter Meitei and Naga insurgents, enabling them through potential logistical support.

The signing of a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, along with the provision of stipends for Kuki militants, has empowered their activities, including extortion from civilians specially on the National Highways, roaming freely using viral video of Ambulance Traveller T1 bearing registration number MN01AB 0300 owned by KNO General Headquarters under SoO agreement with arms are all clear defiance of the ground rules but the protectors of the law and order in the State have given a long rope to these armed millitants.