There are reports of mob violence and rioting in Manipur, where tribal groups and the majority community of Meiteis are clashing over the grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the latter. The administration has imposed Section 144 in the tense areas and internet service has also been suspended in the state. Along with this, orders have also been issued to shoot rioters at sight.
Meitei is a non-tribal community in Manipur, which has been demanding ST status for the last decade. The people of the Meitei community are the majority in Manipur. On 19 April, the Manipur high court asked the state government to consider giving tribal status to the community, after which resentment arose among the existing tribal communities – such as the Kukis – of the state.
Against this decision, the All Tribal Students Union Manipur took out a march on May 3. During the March, there were clashes between tribal and non-tribal communities. According to the information received by The Wire, in this violent clash, many external chaotic elements entered the crowd with weapons in their hands with the intention of inciting violence. Churachandpur, Bishnupur, and Ponpi are the areas of Manipur where violence was more intense. However, the atmosphere is tense in 8 districts of Manipur.
The present condition of Manipur is worrying for both the state and the central government. The chief minister of the BJP government in Manipur, N. Biren Singh, is also from the Meitei community, due to which the atmosphere in Manipur has become tense.
On the other hand, the issue has been taken up by opposition parties. Senior Congress leader Supriya Shrinate attacked the BJP and PM Modi, saying: “On one hand Manipur is burning and on the other hand PM Modi is engaged in vote politics in Karnataka.”
