Ratan Kumar Singh, a 58-year-old high school teacher in Sugnu, India, never thought he would be relieved to see armed fighters, referred to as “revolutionaries” by him. However, on May 28 last year, Singh welcomed them to Sugnu in Manipur as the town had managed to avoid the ethnic violence between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo tribespeople for nearly three weeks. But when violence erupted, Singh was grateful for the fighters who came to defend his town, as they were ethnically Meitei like him.
Now, after eleven months, the conflict in Manipur has claimed 219 lives, injured 1,100, displaced 60,000, and divided the state into ethnic territories. Despite the presence of 60,000 armed forces from the federal government and the state, the violence continues to escalate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s promises of unity between the Hill and Valley communities seemed to have failed as the state remains embroiled in ethnic clashes.
The root of the conflict can be traced back to various factors, including the war on drugs initiated by Chief Minister Singh in 2018. The drug trade in Manipur, linked to the infamous Golden Triangle, has grown significantly over the years, fueling addiction and conflict. The involvement of political figures, including allegations against the Chief Minister’s wife, in the drug trade has further complicated the situation.
As the state gears up for national elections, the tensions between the Kuki and Meitei communities have intensified, with armed groups aligning along ethnic lines. The demand for a separate state by the Kuki-Zo community adds another layer of complexity to the conflict. Amidst the violence and political maneuvering, the ordinary people of Manipur continue to suffer the consequences, with armed confrontations becoming a common occurrence.
The intertwined nature of politics, drug trade, and ethnicity in Manipur paints a grim picture of a state torn apart by violence. As armed groups continue to recruit and train individuals, the conflict shows no signs of abating, posing a threat not only to the people of Manipur but also to the stability of the region as a whole.