Tensions Persist in Manipur, India, as Meitei Militants Cross Buffer Zones to Target Christian Kuki-Zo Community.
In January, a church was ruthlessly bulldozed to the ground after Hindu militants assaulted Christian men and women. The militants arrived with JCBs to demolish the church building.
In February, the Christian community endured gunfire as Meitei Hindu extremists clashed with police during a raid that uncovered stolen weapons, pilfered from a police arsenal.
Yesterday, the CBI charged 7 men involved in the riots and arms seizure.
Pastor Chongloi, who lost his home, car, and all possessions during the tribal conflict, appeals for more support as over 60,000 Christians remain internally displaced, struggling in refugee camps.
Rev. Chongloi calls for global support as tens of thousands of Christians cope with internal displacement.
An urgent appeal for assistance is being made by Rev. Dr. S. Chongloi, Principal of Restoration Theological College and recently appointed as Assistant Executive Secretary of Kuki Christian Church Manipur Synod in Imphal, Manipur. Their offices and living quarters were destroyed on May 4th, 2023, following a violent outbreak sparked by protests from Kuki-zo and other scheduled castes against the inclusion of the Meitei Hindu tribe on the Scheduled Tribes list. This inclusion was contested due to the Meitei tribe’s majority status in the region and concerns about potential land allocation issues reserved exclusively for scheduled tribes. The fear of land grabs by the Meitei community after attaining such status was a significant factor contributing to discontent among other tribes. Read more (here).
During the initial week of violence, a devastating toll was recorded: 77 Kukis and 10 Meiteis lost their lives. The majority of Kuki fatalities resulted from attacks by violent Meitei mobs, who rampaged through the streets of Imphal and other areas in the valley, targeting individuals both in their homes and on the streets.
By May 14th, the government reported staggering statistics of casualties and property damage: 73 fatalities, 243 injuries, 1,809 houses burnt down, 46,145 people displaced, 26,358 individuals accommodated in 178 relief camps, 3,124 individuals escorted to evacuation flights, and 385 criminal cases registered with the authorities.
The charred remains of Rev.Congloi’s home.
On July 19th, a deeply disturbing video began to circulate widely, revealing the harrowing experience endured by two Kuki women, one in her forties and the other in her twenties. They were forcibly stripped, publicly humiliated by being paraded naked through the streets, physically assaulted, including being slapped, and sexually violated by individuals believed to be from the Meitei community. Although these women sought refuge at a police station, they were forcefully taken away by the mob amidst the ongoing violence.
Tragically, the younger victim was reportedly subjected to gang rape, and in the course of this horrifying incident, her father and teenage brother lost their lives while bravely attempting to protect her. Despite the victims filing a complaint, authorities failed to take any action for over two months until the video surfaced, finally drawing attention to this appalling incident. Read more (here)
https://youtu.be/xedmoP6vBxQ
The Meitei stole over 4000 guns, many of them semi-automatic weapons from police armories (click here). which led to heightened levels of violence and death. Read more (here) and (here)
Government statistics indicate that as of September 15th 2023, the violence has claimed the lives of 175 individuals, with 1,108 others sustaining injuries and 32 reported missing. Tragically, 4,786 houses were set ablaze, and 386 religious structures, including temples and churches, were vandalized. The repercussions of the violence have been dire, displacing over 70,000 people from their homes.
It’s worth noting that unofficial figures may indicate an even higher toll, with one newspaper in India claiming at least 200 deaths (click here). The December article discusses clashes between the Kuki and Meitei tribes but fails to clarify that the deaths among Meiteis have predominantly occurred as a result of defensive actions taken by the Kuki communities.
We reported on two mass burial services held for martyrs amidst the ongoing ethnic cleansing on December 22nd, 2023. It’s noteworthy that despite one burial involving 45 individuals and another with 75, mainstream media outlets failed to cover the event. Families had endured a wait of over three months before finally being able to lay their loved ones to rest. Below we share one of the videos we did not share previously -Read more (here).
On February 4th, Pastor Chongloi shared a video with us depicting the demolition of a church by a Meitei militia group. This incident occurred on January 27th, following the group’s assault on and forced expulsion of the Christian community from the area:
On February 28th, a significant news story emerged in India concerning a mass gunfire incident within a buffer zone established to curb violence. The altercation involved Meitei tribal leaders and security forces tasked with safeguarding a senior police officer’s residence. It ensued after raids led to the arrest of one man linked to the mob that stole arms from the police.
Pastor Chongloi provided insight into the situation, explaining, “Last night, police apprehended one leader of looters, revealing the open control of Imphal by Arambai Tengol. Subsequently, they initiated an attack on a police officer. The news and videos I forwarded depict these events, including footage of Meitei militants assaulting a Kuki village last night.”
At that moment, Rev. Chongloi expressed, “We are amidst a war, not a time of peace. These events unfolded last night in Imphal involving clashes between the police and Meitei militants known as Arambai Tengols. In an attempt to divert attention from the tension within Imphal, they initiated attacks on Saibol Kuki village. Despite the establishment of a buffer zone, Meiteis breached it and targeted Kuki villages. The tension is palpable. Just yesterday, I attended four meetings. Sadly, one of our church members passed away last night and will be laid to rest today.”
Additionally, he remarked, “In Imphal, only Meiteis are present. Whether it’s the police or militants, they are all Meiteis involved in the shootings. The Arambai Tengol group, radicalized by the Chief Minister and MP, has looted more than 6000 guns and nearly 10 lakh (1 million) ammunitions from the Manipur Government’s police and IRBs [Indian Reserve Battalions].”
Following the initial arrest and shooting incident, an additional six men were apprehended. Subsequently, yesterday (4th March), all seven men were formally charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Read more in the Times of India (here).
He further elaborated, “Last night, police apprehended one leader of the looters, revealing the open control of Imphal by Arambai Tengol. Subsequently, they initiated an attack on a police officer. The news and videos I forwarded depict these events, including footage of Meitei militants assaulting a Kuki village last night.”
The harassment and attacks on Christian Kuki communities by the Meitei tribes persist, as evidenced by an incident on March 1st. Rev. Chongloi shared a distressing video with us, depicting Meitei militants forcibly disrupting a church service, mocking the church and Jesus while recording the act and shamelessly sharing it on social media. Tragically, the church was later set ablaze. Such targeted acts of violence against religious minorities underscore the urgent need for support and solidarity with the affected communities.
There are still over 70,000 displaced individuals in Manipur, with the majority being Christian Kukis. Despite our ongoing efforts to assist, donations toward this cause have dwindled as the international media’s attention to the situation has waned. To address this pressing need, we’ve launched a crowdfunding campaign, allowing you to track the progress and see firsthand the impact of your contributions. We urge everyone to contribute generously to support our suffering Indian family. Your contributions will make a tangible difference in alleviating the plight of this long-suffering community. Please click here to donate and stand in solidarity with those in need. You can donate to our crowdfund (here).
” The violence in Manipur remains ongoing. The global silence surrounding it has enabled it to persist unchecked. Local authorities, overwhelmed by the situation they have allowed to escalate, often become targets themselves. With tribal allegiances as entrenched as they are in the region, the police and military may exhibit bias towards the Hindu Meitei. I predict prolonged suffering in the region and stress the urgent need for immediate assistance for desperate people. I hope for divine intervention in the situation.” – Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee, British Asian Christian Association
