Srinagar, The situation in Manipur remains tense seven months after the onset of a state-sanctioned pogrom against the Zo ethnic tribes, also known as “Kuki-Zomi” tribes. The region is facing severe ethnic divisions and ongoing violence, raising concerns about the human cost and the state’s role in the conflict.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the violence in Manipur has resulted in significant human and security costs: 175 people killed, 45,000 displaced (mostly of Zo tribal ethnicity), 4,786 houses burned, 386 religious structures demolished, and the looting of 4,000 sophisticated weapons with ammunition from armories and police stations. Reports of sexual violence against Zo tribal women by armed Meitei mobs, including the use of rape as a weapon of war, have emerged, with one particular incident going viral on social media.
The Supreme Court’s interventions have not effectively enforced state accountability or restored confidence in the justice system. The Zo ethnic tribes have largely been excluded from the Centre’s plans for the state, with their community acknowledged only once by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament, propagating the narrative that “Kuki immigrants” from Myanmar are responsible for the ethnic violence.
The PDP’s statement criticizes the general lack of recognition for the Kuki-Zomi tribes and the absence of moral clarity in public commentary on the ethnic violence. The party argues that the grievances of the Kuki-Zomis are against the discriminatory policies of successive state governments, not the Meitei community.
The Zo tribal people’s demands mainly concern greater devolution of powers, development disparity bridging, and fulfillment of constitutional entitlements under Article 371C. The National Commission on Scheduled Tribes has noted state actions encroaching on tribal lands, including incorrect hill village inclusion in valley districts and unauthorized land transfers.
The Zo tribes’ insecurity is evident from recent violent incidents, despite the presence of the Army, Assam Rifles, and Central Armed Police Forces. They continue to face attacks from Arambai Tenggol, a radical armed militia, and proscribed valley-based insurgent groups.
The disproportionate distribution of social and political power in Manipur has predominantly vested in the Meitei community, affecting the Kuki-Zomi tribes. The majority Meitei legislators and state institutions have been criticized for identifying the Zo tribes as “narco-terrorists” or “illegal migrants.”
The article questions the effectiveness of the state’s efforts to end violence in Manipur, highlighting the need for sincere negotiations and alternatives to ensure security and dignity for the Kuki-Zomi tribes. It calls for addressing political accountability, state complicity, and the restoration of law and order to achieve peace in the region.