Explained: Why Is Manipur Burning? What Is The Tribal Protest About?

Fresh violence broke out in the northeastern state of Manipur as churches were set ablaze, tribal homes were marked by mobs and ransacked amid an ongoing agitation against the Scheduled Tribe reservation of the dominant Meity community. A curfew was imposed in eight districts of Manipur and mobile internet services were suspended in the entire northeastern state over the violence.

The Indian Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed to control the situation in Manipur. Several shops and houses were vandalized and gutted in arson that lasted for more than three hours in Torbung. The state police, along with the Army and Assam Rifles, conducted flag marches to keep the situation under control. More than 7,500 people have been rescued from the violence-hit areas, and given shelter, and more people are being shifted to safer places. 

The clashes first erupted last week after a venue where Chief Minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to attend an event was attacked, leading to arson and further skirmishing over the next few days. It resumed again this week following a protest march organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in solidarity with the tribal communities.

The Meitei community, which makes up over half of Manipur's population and primarily inhabits the Manipur valley, has been demanding a Scheduled Tribe status, citing difficulties arising from "large-scale illegal immigration by Myanmarese and Bangladeshis."

Who are the Meities?

The Meiteis mainly inhabit the Manipur valley, which constitutes about 10 per cent of the entire state’s area. They have been claiming that they face difficulty in view of the large-scale illegal immigration by Myanmarese and Bangladeshis. They are allegedly also not allowed to settle in the hill areas as per the existing law. 

The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM), which is spearheading the movement for the inclusion of the Meiteis in the ST category for more than a decade, said the demand is being made not merely for reservation in jobs, educational institutions and tax relief but also for “protecting the ancestral lands, culture and identity of the Meitei people, who are threatened consistently by illegal immigrants from Myanmar, Bangladesh and outside by people from outside the state”.

On April 19, the Manipur High Court issued a directive to the government to consider the request of the community for its inclusion in the reserved category within four weeks and send a recommendation to the Union government for its consideration. The Meitei community accounts for around 53 per cent of the total state population.

Who is protesting and why?

The April 19 order reignited old conflicts between the Meiteis and the hill tribes, who are Christians by faith and account for more than 40 per cent of the population.

The ATSUM organised a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the Torbung area of Churachandpur district. They were protesting against the demand of non-tribal Meiteis – who dominate the Imphal Valley – for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The ATSUM said the rally was organised to express dissent to the "persistent demands of the Meitei community for its inclusion in the ST category" gaining momentum. 

The lawmakers of the valley areas are openly endorsing the Meitei demand and there is a need for appropriate measures to collectively protect the tribal interests, the students union said. 

Thousands joined the processions, waved placards and raised slogans opposing ST status for the Meitei community. Tribal villagers from interior hill areas came in buses and open trucks to the nearest hill district headquarters to attend the rallies. The hill tribes have been protesting against authorities evicting villagers from reserve forest areas. 

According to reports, in Imphal city, several homes belonging to tribal residents were allegedly ransacked.

At Churachandpur, the second largest town in the state, people defied prohibitory orders and gathered at the public ground and took a rally till Tuibong peace ground to show their support to ATSUM. Similar rallies were also held at Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kangpokpi, Noney, Ukhrul and were participated even by school students, the police said.   

What is the government’s stance on the protests?

In a tweet this morning, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh appealed to the people to cooperate with the government in maintaining peace and harmony.

Singh has also denounced demands made by a leading Mizoram student body, saying the state is facing the threat of large-scale illegal immigration from Myanmar. The chief minister has also termed the violence as "an internal matter of the district", adding that it was a “prevailing misunderstanding between two communities”.