Manipur is divided into 2 regions. 1. Inner Manipur: The Imphal Valley region is roughly 10% of Manipur. The Maitei people, who are Hindus, live in this region. Even the Tribals can live in this region. 2. Outer Manipur: This region is 90% of Manipur, which is predominantly a hilly region. The tribal people, who are Christians, live here. Only the tribals can own land in this region. Maitei people have no rights on this land. 54% of the Manipur population is Maitei, which is the General category. Approximately 40% is the Tribal population. Kukis and the Nagas are the most prominent tribes. So, 90% of the land is owned by 40% population. The remaining 10% of the land can be owned by anyone. In recent years, the Tribals started encroaching on the lands in the Imphal Valley. This is the main reason for the clash between the Maiteis and the Kukis.
The Maitei people have very few rights in their own land. So, on March 27th, 2023, the Manipur High Court gave a verdict to grant ST status to the Maitei people. This will give the Maitei people to gain the right over the Outer Manipur lands.
This irked the Kuki and the Naga tribes.
The All Tribals Students Union Manipur(ATSUM) called for protests all over the state. But, these protests were not peaceful. They started burning properties and these caused the riots between the Maiteis and the Kukis.
These riots claimed the lives of both the Kukis and the Maitei people.
There is a hidden reason behind the Kukis getting violent.
According to the reports, more than 15400 acres of land in Manipur is being cultivated with Poppy, which is used for producing drugs.
People from Myanmar are being infiltrated into the state to work in these fields.
The government of Manipur has recently waged a war over these plantations.
So, the Kukis came up with this plan to
1. Win over the government in this P_oppy war.
2. Stop the Maiteis to gain access to the Hilly area lands.
The Kuki women are highly infamous because of their recent acts.
These women strip naked in front of the Indian Army to make them go back.
The Kukis used these women to stop the Indian Army and the Manipur Government officials to enter their areas.
There are numerous videos on this on Youtube. You can watch how these Kuki women behave with the Indian Army.
There is huge infiltration from Bangladesh and Myanmar into the Outer Manipur region, which is also a reason for the riots.
Many criticize the Indian National Congress party for the current situation in Manipur. The Congress government continued the British policies with the Tribals and the Maiteis, which is the root cause of the issue.
The role of Kuki National Army.
The Kukis created a Militant group called the "Kuki National Army" in 1988, to create insurgency in the Northeastern part of India and some parts of Myanmar.
These Militants claimed the lives of many in these 35 years.
This group is behind the ongoing Manipur violence and also the terrorist activities in Myanmar.
As of 20.07.2023:
India:— Video of two Kuki women paraded naked on streets, molested and later raped has rocked India.
■ Detailed report on horrific incident:
— Incident happened in India's North East Manipur region where more than 160 people have been killed in ethnic violence in last two months.
— The women were trying to escape a mob that had attacked their house in village and killed their father.
— Women were rescued by a police unit. However, a mob of 1000 blocked the road and snatched the women.
— The women were then stripped naked, paraded on streets & sexually assaulted by a mob of 1500 men.
— Their 19yol brother was lynched & killed by the mob while trying to save the modesty of his sisters from mob.
— The incident happened on May 4, at Nongpok Sekmai in Thoubal district of Manipur state. No arrests made yet.
— Manipur state is engulfed in deadly ethnic war between Hindu Meiti tribe and Christian Kuki tribe for months.
— India has deployed thousands of paramilitary troops in region, yet there has been no end to ethnic clashes yet.
— Kuki tribes have alleged that Meitis have been supported by state govt of the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP party.
— PM Modi, who has kept silence on Manipur violence, has condemned the incident & called it "shame for india".
— India's North East region, that is house to seven states, is also plagued by numerous separatist movements.
Sources:
2. https://twitter.com/SouthAsiaIndex/status/1681907718293016577?s=20
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