It's been a year since the violence in Manipur began, and peace has yet to return to this northeastern state. Protests continue on the streets, and gunfire erupts in several areas. Intense demonstrations have been witnessed in Imphal since the attack on the CRPF camp in Kangpokpi district on September 8th.
Earlier, on September 6th, there was an attempt to steal weapons outside the Manipur Rifles battalion offices in Imphal. On September 9th, students marched in protest, attempting to encircle the residences of the Chief Minister and the Governor.
On September 1st, a drone attack occurred in Western Imphal, followed by an RPG attack in the heavily impacted Bishnupur district on September 6th. The RPG attack hit Moirang in Bishnupur, causing a rocket to strike the residence of Manipur's first Chief Minister, M. Koiring, resulting in one fatality. The explosion was so intense that rocket fragments were scattered across the walls.
Source: aajtak
Kelvin, the grandson of Manipur's first Chief Minister, told Aaj Tak that he heard the supersonic blast and moved to another part of the house just before the explosion. Had he not done so, he could have been among the casualties.
Moirang is about 8 to 10 kilometers from the hilly regions of Bishnupur district. The fact that a rocket was fired from such a distance reveals the kind of weapons now being used in Manipur.
Source: aajtak
On the morning of September 6th, around 4:30 AM, a massive explosion rocked the village of Tranglabi, just 3 kilometers from Moirang in Bishnupur district. The blast's impact demolished the entire wall of a toilet at the back of a house, scattering rocket fragments across surrounding walls. Fortunately, most of the family was sleeping in safer parts of the house, which the rocket couldn’t penetrate, but traces of the rocket can be seen in the weaker sections.
Local resident Priya recalls the terror when the explosion occurred, saying everyone woke up in fright. The fear remains as they do not know when such an attack might happen again.
Source: aajtak
For the past 16 months, the people of Manipur have been waiting for peace to return as life has come to a standstill. Livelihoods have been completely disrupted, and the future seems uncertain. Priya shares that the residents are mentally traumatized and economically devastated because neither the government can stop the violence nor provide aid to the affected regions. She asks, “How long can we survive in this condition?”
Why Is the Violence Unending?
The most important question is why the violence in Manipur hasn't ceased. To put it simply, this conflict is between two ethnic groups, the Kukis and Meiteis. Most Meiteis live in the valley, while Kukis reside in the hills. Post-violence, mobility between these two communities has nearly ceased. This deterioration in relations is a major factor for the ongoing violence.
Due to their segregated locations, the entire region has almost turned into a border zone. According to reports, both groups have built safe bunkers and possess substantial amounts of weapons. They wait for opportunities to attack each other and then retreat to their bunkers. The terrain of valleys and hills makes it challenging to stop this violence.
