In a grim development, at least 13 people have lost their lives in the ongoing clashes between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the mainly Christian Kuki community in India’s northeastern Manipur state. The conflict, which erupted seven months ago, has now claimed over 200 lives, further deepening the ethnic fault lines within the region.
The bodies were discovered in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, situated near the border with Myanmar, as confirmed by a state official to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday. State police later released an official statement, substantiating the death toll, as reported by the Times of India on Tuesday.
The root cause of the prolonged strife lies in longstanding tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities, primarily revolving around competition for land and public jobs. Activists advocating for human rights have accused local leaders of exacerbating these ethnic divisions for political gain.
Manipur, once a harmonious region, now stands fractured along ethnic lines, with rival militias resorting to blockades to prevent the ingress of members from the opposing community. The situation has reached a critical point, with the violence escalating and claiming lives at an alarming rate.
Human Rights Watch, a global advocacy organization, has levied accusations against Manipur’s state authorities, governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party. The organization alleges that the state has facilitated the conflict through divisive policies that promote Hindu majoritarianism, further exacerbating the already volatile situation.
As the international community watches with growing concern, urgent calls for peace and intervention are echoing, seeking to address the root causes and find a lasting resolution to the deeply entrenched ethnic conflict plaguing Manipur.
