NO Truce IN SIGHT

Over 50,000 people have been displaced since May 3 due to the ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo communities. Still, there is little hope for reconciliation

- Angana Chakrabarti 

A few people had gathered outside a nondescript house in a neighbourhood in Imphal, Manipur’s capital city, on the evening of June 9. Some of them quickly signalled to this reporter, who was seated inside a car, to come out.

“Come in quick,” one of them said, urgently pointing at the door of the house. The group—of about 10 people—were among the few Kuki-Zos who had stayed back in Imphal after ethnic clashes broke out with the Meiteis on May 3. The violence started in the bordering areas of Churachandpur, a Kuki-dominated district, and Bishnupur, a Meitei-dominated district, after several tribal groups staged a protest against the demand of the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe status.

As news of the violence spread—which occurred in the Torbung area, located between Churachandpur and Bishnupur—Meitei mobs attacked Kuki houses in Imphal, located in the Meitei-dominated valley. In the days that followed, tens of thousands of Kukis were forced to flee to the Kuki-dominated hill areas. But a few remained.

“They (Meitei mobs) came in groups with weapons. They burnt down vehicles. Our Meitei neighbours tried to stop them, but they forced their way through,” says John (name changed). He adds, “How many years does it take to not be considered a refugee? This is our birthplace. We want to die in our house.” Kim (name changed), who was wearing a surgical mask, adds, “We are probably the last remaining Kukis in Imphal. If we leave, that means the state is truly divided.”