May 3, 2023 to May 3, 2024 : TSE looks back at May 3, 2023 and on the days running into it
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 02 2024: Friday, May 3, 2024 will mark one complete year of the violent conflict that ensued after the "Tribal Solidarity March" turned violent at Churachandpur.

Much has happened since the infamous "Tribal Solidarity March" of May 3, 2023.More than 200 have been killed, dozens are missing and thousands have become homeless, who are now taking shelter at relief camps spread across the length and breadth of the State.

10 Kuki-Zo MLAs have raised a demand for a Separate Administration.

More than 60,000 strong Central Security Forces including the Rapid Action Force have been deployed, but gunfights still persist in the peripheries of the valley.

May 3, 2023 to May 3, 2024 : TSE looks back at May 3, 2023 and on the days running into it

In the State marred with violence, Lok Sabha elections have been held, and people in large numbers have cast their votes.

Manipur, however, is yet to see normalcy and peace restored.

With the conflict completing one year tomorrow, The Sangai Express is bringing our readers a recap of the series of incidents that led to the violence and what was published a year ago.

Significantly, while many heard about the "Separate Administration" demand only days after May 3, 2023 and when 10 Kuki MLAs raised it on May 12, The Sangai Express' report of the May 3 incidents did drop a hint of such a demand appearing sooner.

The Sangai Express' report of the May 3 rally at Kangpokpi said, "Meanwhile, during a short meeting at Brig M Thomas Ground, one of the tribal leaders who addressed the crowd said that the tribal populace may demand for separate administration if their stand against the ST demand of Meetei/Meitei is taken lightly" .

The report said over 5000 people attended the meeting.

The "conflict", as many dubbed it, was undoubtedly born after the May 3, 2023 "Tribal Solidarity March", called by the All Manipur Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM), turned violent at Churachandpur and areas bordering Bishnupur.

However, trouble was brewing much before May 3, 2023 in Churachandpur district.

What happened in Churachandpur before May 3, 2023

On March 10, 2023, the State Cabinet decided to withdraw from the Suspension of Operation Pact with Kuki National Army (KNA), the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) .

In early April 2023, the State Government launched a land survey at Khoupum Protected Forest, but was met with strong opposition from Kuki students and civil bodies.

The Forest and Revenue Departments made an attempt to conduct the survey on April 11, 2023 but was met with strong opposition.

Volunteers of Kuki student bodies and other civil bodies prevented officials from conducting the survey.

Another attempt later also failed.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) resolved to not cooperate with the State Government, and called a total shutdown in Churachandpur district on April 28, 2023 .

ITLF cited the survey carried out by the State Government pertaining to Reserved Forests, Protected Forests, wetlands and eviction of villages as the reason for the shutdown call.

On the night of April 27, 2023, an Open Gym in the PT Sports Complex in Churachandpur which was scheduled to be inaugurated by Chief Minister N Biren Singh the next day was vandalised and burnt.

On the intervening night of April 28 and April 29, 2023, a mob torched the Range Forest Office at Tuibong.

While Meitei's ST demand was claimed to be the reason for organising the "Tribal Solidarity March" on May 3, 2023, protesters would target and burn more offices in Kuki dominated areas on the day of the protest.

Key incidents that took place on May 3, 2023 and afterwards

ATSUM's "Tribal Solidarity March" completed peacefully in all Naga dominated areas of Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul but trouble erupted in Chura-chandpur which quickly spread to Kangpokpi and Moreh.

On the May 4 edition, The Sangai Express reported, "While the protest rally ended peacefully in several hill districts, the scene was otherwise in Churachandpur, Moirang, Motbung and Moreh with reports of arson, vandalism and confrontations taking place" .

Notably, in the reportage, The Sangai Express did not mention and attribute the violence to any community to avoid flare ups.

While the rally was on, many Forest offices were vandalised and burnt at many places.

The Sangai Express reported, "Concurrent to the rally, reports started doing the round that many Forest Beat Offices located in the district were either ransacked or set on fire.

The Beat Offices of the Forest Department located at Bungmual, Singhat, Muallum, Mualtam and Saikot were set afire or ransacked by unknown miscreants" .

On the same day, the Forest office at Kangpokpi was set ablaze at around 8 pm.

On the incidents in Churachandpur, this paper reported, "The situation [rally] however took an ugly turn soon after some unknown miscreants travelling in a white Bolero started a fire at the foot of 'Anglo-Kuki War' gate at Leisang village.

Till the time of going to press, it is not clear who started the fire.

The miscreants reportedly escaped from the area after they were seen by the people who later doused the fire" .

Protesters of Churachandpur then crossed into Bishnupur and started vandalising Meitei shops and houses on both sides of Tiddim Road at and near Torbung.

In videos that went viral on social media before the internet was shut, armed persons were seen among the protesters.

One was seen wielding a weapon suspected to be an AK Rifle.

The Sangai Express reported "...a large number of people from Churachandpur side stormed towards Bangla and Torbung along Tiddim Road and destroyed several shops.

The agitators overpowered the locals and began attacking the Forest office at Phougakchao Ikhai before they were dispersed by the police who fired rounds of tear gas shells and resorted to blank firing.

"Reportedly, agitators coming from Churachandpur side also shot some rounds in retaliation and set on fire at least six houses and vehicles including a van, Maruti Alto, Honda Activa and two heavy vehicles (JCB) at Phougakchao Ikhai" .

The report added, "Several houses, shops and vehicles have been torched at Torbung, Bangla, Kang-vai and Phougakchao Ikhai situated along the adjoining areas of Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts" .

As houses and shops belonging to Meiteis were vandalised and burnt at Torbung and adjoining villages, Imphal responded much later in the evening with people coming out on the roads and burning tyres in protest.

"Elsewhere in Imphal and Greater Imphal areas people took to streets and burnt tyres purportedly against the torching of houses of many families in the aftermath of the Solidarity Rally of ATSUM," reported The Sangai Express.

After Torbung and adjoining villages were engulfed in fire, the violence then reached the heart of Churachandpur town.

"Meanwhile, the violence reportedly reached Churachandpur town as gunshots, sound of ambulance sirens overwhelmed the air and fires could be seen at several localities," reported The Sangai Express.

On incidents in Moreh, this paper reported, "At Moreh, a report of protesters torching at least four hotels have been confirmed by our correspondent and the figure may increase as tense atmosphere was prevalent till the time of filing this report at the border town.

Reportedly, police resorted to firing rounds of tear gas shells as many protesters were seen on streets and alleyways and rioting" .

At Motbung, the report said, "At least 40 houses have been reduced to ashes at Motbung in Kangpokpi district after ATSUM's rally at around 7 pm" . On May 5 edition, The Sangai Express reported, "A large group of people who were armed with sophisticated weapons set ablaze many houses at Mairenpat, Pukhao and Dolaithabi last night [May 3 night] .

The attackers also torched all the vehicles including heavy vehicles.

It was reported that all the houses of Ikou were reduced to cinders" .

While there were no reports of anyone killed on day 1, the death toll touched 11 on day 2, May 4 .

The death toll touched 54 on day 3, May 5 .