Violence erupted in Manipur, resulting in the torching of two houses in the Imphal East district. Four armed men, including a former MLA, forced shop owners to close their businesses, leading to the incident.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal expressed concern, stating that the “communal virus” affects the body politic, leaving lasting scars despite its temporary political dividends. Sibal, a former Union minister who left the Congress party last year, tweeted about the ongoing turmoil in Manipur, referring to previous clashes that claimed 70 lives and injured 200 individuals. He warned of the unimaginable consequences if the communal virus spreads further.
Opposition parties strongly criticized the BJP-led central and state governments for the violence in Manipur. Currently, around 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles soldiers are deployed in the state to maintain order.
The recent clashes were triggered by a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organized on May 3 to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Tension escalated due to the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, leading to smaller agitations.
Manipur’s population consists of Meiteis (53%), who mainly reside in the Imphal Valley, and Nagas and Kukis (40%), who predominantly inhabit the hill districts. Past ethnic clashes between these communities claimed over 70 lives, necessitating the deployment of 10,000 army and paramilitary personnel to restore normalcy in the northeastern state.
The recent violence raises concerns about deep-seated communal tensions and their potential long-term consequences on Manipur’s social and political fabric.