View source for 2023–2024 Manipur violence

{{Short description|Ethnic violence in India}}
{{Update|date=December 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox civil conflict
| partof = 
| image = 
| date = 3 May 2023 – present<br />({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|day1=3|month1=5|year1=2023|day2=|month2=|year2=|duration=yes}})
| place = [[Manipur]], [[India]]
| causes = * [[Ethnic conflict]]<ref>
{{cite journal |first=Seikhogin |last=Haokip |title=Autonomy Demands in the Hill Areas of Manipur: Issues and Challenges |journal=Journal of North East India Studies |volume=6 |number=2 |page=40 |year=2016 |issn=2277-6869 |url=https://www.jneis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/6.2.3.pdf |quote=Thus, the standpoint of the dominant valley-based Meitei community on the ‘territorial integrity’ of Manipur remains a major challenge to the demands for ‘Greater Nagalim’, separate ‘Kuki State’, and extension of the Sixth Schedule in the hill areas of Manipur.}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news |first=Haoginlen |last=Chongloi |title=Free-Flowing Hate Speech, Rampant Racial Profiling: How Manipur Grew Intolerant |newspaper=The Wire |date=18 June 2022 |url=https://thewire.in/rights/free-flowing-hate-speech-rampant-racial-profiling-how-manipur-grew-intolerant |quote=Highlighting a few instances of involving the Kukis in the recent past, these leaders from the majority community are habituated to generalising the entire Kuki population as refugees and migrants.... What is being noticed is that hate speech, earlier the territory of individuals, was now taking place at the institutional level.}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite news |date=2023-09-26 |title=4 months on, how Meitei-Kuki conflict has kept Manipur on the boil |newspaper=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-violence-meitei-kuki-tribe-conflict-four-months-8956725/|quote=Intermittent violence — emerging from an ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki communities}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite news |title=Why ethnic violence in India's Manipur has been going on for three months| newspaper=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/9/why-ethnic-violence-in-indias-manipur-has-been-going-on-for-three-months |quote=The state has fractured on ethnic lines, with rival Meitei and Kuki-Zo militias setting up blockades to keep out members of the opposing community.}}
</ref>
* Meitei [[majoritarianism]]<ref>
{{citation |first=Amom |last=Malemnganba Singh |title=Meitei Majoritarian Politics of the BJP in Manipur |journal=Economic & Political Weekly |volume=58 |number=1 |date=7 January 2023 |url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2023/1/alternative-standpoint/meitei-majoritarian-politics-bjp-manipur.html |quote=... the [Bharatiya Janata Party] has favoured popularising and reimagining Manipur’s culture and traditions, emphasising the Meiteis. It has also aided in the formation of several Meitei-based organisations. This has sparked a concern among the state’s diverse ethnic communities, prompting them to launch their own version of ethnic politics to counter Meitei majoritarianism, which could dangerously lead to the disintegration of Manipur into numerous sub-factions.... It is important to note that the Meiteis' demand for the ST status is closely linked to the BJP’s majoritarian politics of inciting the Meiteis to further solidify their dominance over minorities through the benefits provided for the ST category.}}
</ref><ref>
{{citation |author=Sushant Singh |title=Manipur Crisis Tests Modi's India |newspaper=Foreign Policy |date=1 August 2023 |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/08/01/india-manipur-violence-crisis-modi-bjp-majoritarianism/ |quote=Spiraling violence in the northeastern state takes cues from the ruling party’s majoritarianism.}}
</ref><ref>
{{citation |author=Arunabh Saikia |title=The return of Meitei insurgents marks a new turn in Manipur conflict |newspaper=Scroll.in |date=2 September 2023 |url=https://scroll.in/article/1055257/the-return-of-meitei-insurgents-marks-a-new-turn-in-manipur-conflict |quote=Such charges are rooted in the Manipur government’s barely-veiled Meitei majoritarian stance that has been on display throughout the conflict... The Manipur commandos, an elite counter-insurgency unit of the state police, in particular, has been widely charged with siding with Meitei mobs.}}
</ref><ref>
{{citation |author=Greeshma Kuthar |title=Fire and Blood: How the BJP is enabling ethnic cleansing in Manipur |newspaper=The Caravan |date=31 July 2023 |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/conflict/how-bjp-enabling-ethnic-cleansing-manipur |quote=... the [High Court] order came amid an escalation in the Biren Singh government’s concerted campaign to stir up majoritarian sentiments against Kukis, using the same tactics it had employed against the Pangals. The scale of this campaign, however, is exponentially higher.}}
</ref><ref>
{{citation |author=Syed Firdaus Ashraf |title='Biren Singh's BJP government is playing with fire in Manipur' (interview of Kham Khan Suan Hausing) |newspaper=Rediff News |date=18 May 2023 |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/interview/kham-khan-suan-hausing-biren-singhs-bjp-government-is-playing-with-fire-in-manipur/20230518.htm |quote=Biren Singh may have found these militant organisations very useful to aggressively push his integrationist and majoritarian agenda and conveniently use this to electorally consolidate his position by neutralising intermittent challenges from powerful factional leaders within the BJP.}}
</ref><ref>
{{citation |author=Jagdish Rattanani |title=Playing with fire in Manipur: The wages of majoritarianism |newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=21 June 2023 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/playing-with-fire-in-manipur-the-wages-of-majoritarianism-1229709.html}} '"In the present scenario," the civil society groups put it, "the worst of the violence against the Kukis has been perpetuated by armed Meitei majoritarian groups...accompanied by genocidal hate-speech and supremacist displays of impunity."'
</ref>
* [[Anti-Christian sentiment]]<ref>
Makepeace Sitlhou, Greeshma Kuthar, [https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/meitei-christians-in-indias-manipur-face-broad-attacks/ While the conflict has been ethnic in nature, there has been an underlying communal element to the violence], New Lines Magazine, 27 December 2023. "''New Lines'' met several Meitei Christian pastors in Imphal and the surrounding Meitei-dominated districts whose churches had been attacked, but they were extremely scared to share their stories.... Meitei pastors have also alleged that they were forced to convert to Sanamahism and that an unaccounted number of Meitei Christian families have had to renounce their faith by signing conversion affidavits and burning their Bibles under duress from these extremist groups."
</ref><ref>
Ravi Agarwal, [https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/08/17/inside-manipurs-ethnic-violence/ Inside Manipur’s Ethnic Violence], Foreign Policy, 17 August 2023. "While this is not a Hindu-versus-Christian conflict, there are definite religious undertones, which certainly have consequences in today’s India."
</ref><ref>
Snigdhendu Bhattacharya, [https://www.outlookindia.com/national/hindutva-is-a-friend-that-manipur-s-meiteis-would-be-better-without-news-305283 Hindutva Is A 'Friend' That Manipur's Meiteis Would Be Better Without], Outlook, 24 July 2023. "Soon after the beginning of the conflict on May 3 started a flood of social media posts targeting Kukis as 'Christian terrorists'. While tweets from handles belonging to Meiteis mostly blamed 'Kuki terrorists' or 'Kuki militants' or 'Kuki drug mafias' and 'Kuki narco terrorists', the profiles belonging to Hindutva activists, operated mostly by people outside Manipur, started vilifying 'Kuki Christian terrorists'."
</ref><ref>
[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/21/manipur-india-why-is-there-conflict-and-how-is-the-government-responding Manipur: why is there conflict and how is the government responding?], The Guardian, 21 July 2023. "As the clashes spread, villages were burned down and more than 250 churches belonging to the Kuki community, who are Christian, were destroyed.... Some allege that the Hindu nationalist Modi government is not stepping in to protect the Kukis, who are Christian, from the Meitei, who are Hindu."
</ref><ref>
[https://www.indiatodayne.in/opinion/story/unpacking-the-ethnic-violence-in-manipur-the-impact-of-social-media-and-newly-formed-civil-societies-571272-2023-06-06 Unpacking the ethnic violence in Manipur: The impact of social media and newly formed civil societies], India Today NE, 6 June 2023. 'There have also been reports of Arambai Tenggol burning churches and forcing Meitei Christians to renounce their faith. In a post made by the Facebook page Meitei/Meetei Christian on May 6 accused the group of attacking Meitei Christians, quoting, “As per our knowledge, we know all the Meitei Christian churches are demolished. And now Arambai Tenggol is forcing to renounce their Christian faith among the Meitei Christians.”'
</ref><ref>
{{Cite news |title=Violence Against Tribal Christians in Manipur, India |publisher=United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, US Government |url=https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/uscirf-spotlight/violence-against-tribal-christians-manipur-india}}
</ref>
* [[Illegal immigration to India|Illegal migration]] (claimed)<ref name=wapomyanmar>
{{Cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Anant |last2=Mehrotra |first2=Karishma |date=2023-05-26 |title=India's northeast racked by ethnic unrest partly fueled by Myanmar crisis |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/26/india-violence-manipur-myanmar/ |quote=“Since the coup, this recent violence is the first time where we see that a large number of refugees have come in and created internal problems,” said Gopal Krishna Pillai, a former home secretary and joint secretary in charge of India’s whole northeast, echoing the official line that the refugees are to blame for the unrest.... But some observers maintain that the government is scapegoating the tribal peoples. “Now, it is easier to target the Kukis as illegal immigrants,” said Angshuman Choudhury, an expert on the region at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research.}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite news |date=2023-05-18 |title=Govt: Manipur violence due to crackdown on illegal migrants |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/govt-manipur-violence-due-to-crackdown-on-illegal-migrants/articleshow/100314803.cms?from=mdr |quote=The Centre and Manipur government told the Supreme Court that the genesis of ethnic violence in the state was the crackdown on illegal Myanmar migrants' illicit poppy cultivation and drug business in the hill districts...}}
</ref><ref name="Straits Times">
{{Cite news |author=Debarshi Dasgupta |date=2023-08-06 |title=Unrest in Myanmar linked to ongoing ethnic strife in India's Manipur state |language=en |newspaper=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/unrest-in-myanmar-linked-to-ongoing-ethnic-strife-in-india-s-manipur |quote=Manipur’s Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader N. Biren Singh, a Meitei, has blamed illegal migrants and drug lords from Myanmar for the lingering violence, claiming such forces were trying to “destabilise the state”.}}
</ref><ref name="BBC explainer">
{{Cite news |date=2023-07-20 |title=Manipur violence: What is happening and why |language=en-GB |newspaper=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66260730 |quote=[There] are myriad underlying reasons. The Kukis say a war on drugs waged by the Meitei-led government is a screen to uproot their communities. Illegal migration from Myanmar has heightened tensions. There is pressure on land use from a growing population and unemployment has pushed youth towards the various militias.}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite news |title=Drugs, land rights, tribal identity and illegal immigration-Why Manipur is burning |newspaper=India Today NE |date=2023-05-05 |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/drugs-land-rights-tribal-identity-and-illegal-immigration-why-manipur-is-burning-|quote=Fuelling this conflict are also allegations of illegal immigration. In March, leaders of several students' organisations representing the Meitei community protested outside Biren Singh's home, alleging that "illegal immigrants from Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh" were marginalising "the indigenous people of Manipur". They demanded the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the setting up of a population commission.}}
</ref>
* [[Narco-terrorism|Cross-border narcoterrorism]] (claimed)<ref name="Straits Times"/><ref>
{{Citation |author=Sumir Karmakar |title=Role of Myanmar-based drug lords, 'illegal immigrants' suspected in Manipur violence |newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=15 May 2023 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/role-of-myanmar-based-drug-lords-illegal-immigrants-suspected-in-manipur-violence-1218853.html |quote=Amid a high level inquiry into the ongoing Kuki-Meitei clashes in Manipur, the BJP government in the state is increasingly pushing its claim that Myanmar-based drug lords and 'illegal immigrants' from the neighbouring country were behind the violence...}}
</ref>
| methods = [[Arson]] (including [[Church arson|churches]] and temples)<ref name="Telegraph 13 Jun">
{{Cite news |title=253 churches burnt down during continuing unrest in Manipur: Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum |newspaper=The Telegraph (Kolkata) |date=13 June 2023 |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/253-churches-burnt-down-during-continuing-unrest-in-manipur-indigenous-tribal-leaders-forum/cid/1944597}}
</ref><ref name="IE 18 Jun">
{{Cite news |title=Archbishop of Imphal claims 249 churches burnt in Manipur: 'Religious attack carried out' |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=18 June 2023 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/archbishop-imphal-claims-249-churches-burnt-in-manipur-8669677/}}
</ref><ref name="IE 15 Sep">
{{Cite news |author=Sukirta Baruah |title=Manipur violence: 175 deaths so far, 4,786 houses burnt, say police |newspaper= The Indian Express |date=15 September 2023 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/manipur-violence-deaths-houses-burnt-police-8941007/}}
</ref><ref name="Sangai 20 May">
{{cite news |title=Temple vandalised, villagers terrified |newspaper=The Sangai Express |date=20 May 2023 |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2023/5/20/By-Our-Staff-ReporterIMPHAL-May-19-Ingourok-Mahadev-temple-which-is-considered-very-sacred-and-r.html}}
</ref><br/>[[Vandalism]] (including homes, temples and churches),<ref name="ITNE 2 Jun">
{{Cite news |title=Manipur Files: 1,988 Meitei homes, 1,425 Kuki homes, 17 temples and 221 churches destroyed |newspaper=India Today NE |date=2023-06-02 |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-files-1988-meitei-homes-1425-kuki-homes-17-temples-and-221-churches-destroyed-569676-2023-06-02}}
</ref><br/>[[Rioting]],<br/>[[Murder]]<ref name="Hindu 21 Jul">
{{Cite news |title=Before parading women naked in Manipur, mob killed people and torched houses, June 21 FIR states |date=21 July 2023 |newspaper=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/before-parading-women-naked-in-manipur-mob-killed-people-and-torched-houses-june-21-fir-states/article67105220.ece}}
</ref> (including [[lynching]]),<ref name="Outlook 20 May">
{{Cite news |author=Rakhi Bose |title=Manipur Violence: Lynchings, Villages Burnt, Lives Disrupted. But Where Was The State? |newspaper=Outlook |date=20 May 2023 |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/scarred-and-displaced-magazine-287803}}
</ref><ref name="Outlook 20 Jun">
{{Cite news |author=Rakhi Bose |title=A Lynching Caught On Tape: Manipur's Kuki Family Demands Justice For The 'Missing Man' |newspaper=Outlook |date=20 June 2023 |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/a-lynching-caught-on-tape-manipur-s-kuki-family-demands-justice-for-the-missing-man--news-296375 }}
</ref><br>[[Mutilation]]<ref name="Wire 17 Jul">
{{Cite news |title=Naga Body Demands Action Against Meitei Groups for Killing of Naga Woman in Imphal East |website=The Wire |date=17 July 2023 |url=https://thewire.in/security/two-killed-in-separate-incidents-as-violence-continues-in-manipur }}
</ref><ref name="Outlook 22 Jul">
{{Cite news |title=Manipur: More Horrific Cases Of Beheading And Assault Of Women Surface |newspaper=Outlook |date=22 July 2023 |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/manipur-churachandpur-kangpokpi-violence-beheading-rape-murder-women-news-304791 }}
</ref><br/>[[Plundering]]<ref name="IE 3 Jun">
{{Cite news |title=3,000 weapons looted in second wave of Manipur violence, 144 recovered so far |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=3 June 2023 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/140-weapons-surrendered-manipur-amit-shah-8642463/}}
</ref><ref name="TOI 12 May">
{{Cite web |title=Looting unabated in Manipur dists |newspaper=The Times of India |date=12 May 2023 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/imphal/looting-unabated-in-manipur-dists/articleshow/100173826.cms}}
</ref><br>[[Mass rape]]<ref name="Hindu more cases">
{{Cite news |title=More cases of women being assaulted surface in Manipur |newspaper=The Hindu |date=21 July 2023 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/women-were-stripped-raped-set-ablaze-in-manipur-more-cases-surface/article67106726.ece }}
</ref><ref name="Hindu 22 Jul">
{{Cite news |title=18-year-old gang-raped in Manipur after women vigilantes hand her over to armed men |newspaper=The Hindu |date=22 July 2023 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/18-year-old-woman-assaulted-gangraped-in-manipur-on-may-15/article67110455.ece}}
</ref>
| side1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Kangleipak.svg}} [[Meitei people]]
| side2 = {{ubl|[[Kuki-Zo people]]}}
| side3 = {{Tree list}}
*  {{flagicon image|Flag of India.svg}} '''[[Government of India]]'''
***  {{army|IND}}
*** {{flagicon image|CRPF Flag.svg}} [[Central Reserve Police Force|CRPF]]
***{{flagicon image|Assam Rifles Flag.svg}}[[Assam Rifles]]
**'''[[Government of Manipur]]'''
***{{flagicon image|Manipur Police Logo (India).svg}}[[Manipur Police]]

{{tree list/end}}
| fatalities = '''official''' – 221 (3 May 2024)<ref name="one year of conflict"/><ref name="Scroll 29 Feb"/><br/>
'''earlier''' - 175 (14 September 2023)<ref name="ITNE 14 Sep">
* Phurailatpam Keny Devi, [https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/video/manipur-violence-security-forces-remove-barricades-in-bishnupur-district-igp-reports-175-casualties-678282-2023-09-14 Manipur violence: Security forces remove barricades in Bishnupur district, IGP reports 175 casualties], India Today NE, 14 September 2023.
</ref><br/>(98&nbsp;Kuki-Zo, 67&nbsp;Meitei, 6&nbsp;unidentified, 6&nbsp;security personnel)<ref name="Hindu 28 Nov">
Vijaita Singh, Abhinay Lakshman, [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/manipur-government-data-shows-kin-of-less-than-half-the-victims-paid-compensation/article67583885.ece Supreme Court panel submits report on Manipur victims], The Hindu, 28 November 2023.
</ref><br/>'''unofficial''' – 181 (29 July 2023)<ref name="Reuters bunkers"/><ref name="Telegraph 29 Jul">
{{Cite web |title=Manipur: Bearing brunt of violence, Kukis make up two-thirds of the victims, says Reuters analysis |newspaper=The Telegraph (Kolkata) |date=29 July 2023 |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/manipur-bearing-brunt-of-violence-kukis-make-up-two-thirds-of-the-victims-says-reuters-analysis/cid/1955181}}
</ref><br/>(113&nbsp;Kuki-Zo, 62&nbsp;Meitei)<ref name="Reuters bunkers"/><ref name="Telegraph 29 Jul"/>
| injuries = 1,108<ref name="PTI 15 Sep"/>
| damage = 60,000+ displaced<ref name="Guardian 10 July">{{citation |author1=Aakash Hassan |author2=Hannah Ellis-Petersen |title='Foreigners on our own land': ethnic clashes threaten to push India's Manipur state into civil war |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 July 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/10/foreigners-on-our-own-land-ethnic-clashes-threaten-to-push-indias-manipur-state-into-civil-war}}
</ref><br/>~400 churches damaged or destroyed<ref>
{{Cite web |url=https://hrwf.eu/india-indias-manipur-remains-tense-weeks-after-400-churches-were-burned-60-christians-killed/ |title=India's Manipur still tense after 400 churches burned and 60 Christians killed &#124; Human Rights Without Frontiers |date=22 May 2023 |website=hrwf.eu}}
</ref><ref name="persecution.org 16 June">
{{Cite web |title=Hundreds of Houses of Worship Destroyed in Manipur, India |website=International Christian Concern |date=2023-06-16 |url=https://www.persecution.org/2023/06/16/churches-and-christians-suffer-in-manipur-india/}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite web |author=Katey Hearth |url=https://www.mnnonline.org/news/over-300-churches-destroyed-by-manipur-mobs/ |title=Over 300 churches destroyed by Manipur mobs}}
</ref><br>17 temples vandalized<ref name="ITNE 2 Jun"/>
<!-- Blanking contentious figures - Kautilya3, 3 August 2023
| howmany1 = Total Meitei population in Manipur:<br>1,522,132 <ref>
{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Manipur |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1400.XLSX |website=census.gov.in |access-date=29 September 2020}}
</ref>
| howmany2 = Total Kuki population in Manipur:<br>28,342<ref>
{{Cite web |url=https://www.populationu.com/in/manipur-population |title=Manipur Population 2022/2023 |website=www.populationu.com}}
</ref><br><br/>Total Zo population Manipur:<br>24,294
| howmany3 = Total Uniformed personnel stationed in Manipur:<br>62,400<ref>
{{Cite web |title=Murder, Mayhem in Manipur |newspaper=Nagaland Post |date=17 June 2023 |url=https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/murder-mayhem-in-manipur/}}
</ref>
-->| coordinates = {{Coord|24.6|93.8|dim:70000_region:IN-MN_type:event|format=dms|display=it}}
| map_type = India
| map_size = 350
}}

On 3 May 2023, [[ethnic violence]] erupted in [[India]]'s [[Northeast India|north-eastern]] [[States and union territories of India|state]] of [[Manipur]] between the [[Meitei people]], a majority that lives in the [[Imphal Valley]], and the [[Kuki people|Kuki-Zo]] tribal community from the surrounding hills.<ref name="Guardian 5 May" /> According to government figures, as of 3 May 2024, 221 people have been killed in the violence and 60,000 people have been displaced.<ref name="one year of conflict">
[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/manipur-groups-mark-one-year-of-conflict-seek-peace-accountability-justice/article68136645.ece Manipur groups mark one year of conflict with cry for peace, justice], The Hindu, 3 May 2024.
</ref><ref name="Scroll 29 Feb">
[https://scroll.in/latest/1064482/manipur-219-killed-in-ethnic-violence-since-may-10000-firs-registered-says-governor Manipur: 219 killed in ethnic violence since May, 10,000 FIRs registered, says governor], Scroll.in, 29 February 2024.
</ref> Earlier figures also mentioned over 1,000  injured, and 32 missing. 4,786 houses were burnt and 386 religious structures were vandalized, including temples and churches.<ref name="PTI 15 Sep">
{{Cite news |author=PTI |title=175 killed, over 1,100 injured in four months of Manipur violence: police |work=The Hindu |date=2023-09-15 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/175-killed-over-1100-injured-in-four-months-of-manipur-violence-police/article67310428.ece}}
</ref> Unofficial figures are higher.<ref name="Wire 9 Sep">
{{Cite news |author=Yaqut Ali |title=The Manipur Crisis in Numbers: Four Months of Unending Violence |newspaper=The wire |date=9 September 2023 |url=https://thewire.in/security/the-manipur-crisis-in-numbers-four-months-of-unending-violence|quote=It has been four months since violence erupted between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur, which claimed the lives of around 200 people and left more than 70,000 people displaced.}}
</ref><ref name="Reuters bunkers"/>

The proximate cause of the violence was a row over an [[affirmative action]] measure. On 14 April 2023, acting on a writ petition, the Manipur High Court ordered the state government to send a recommendation to the central government on the demand for a [[Scheduled Tribe]] status by the valley-based Meitei community,<ref>{{cite news |author=Sukrita Barua |title=Meitei ST demand in Manipur gets HC boost, touches another raw tribal nerve in NE |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/northeast-meitei-st-demand-manipur-hc-8581664/ |date=28 April 2023 |work=The Indian Express}}</ref> a decision later criticised by the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-17 |title=SC criticizes Manipur HC order as 'factually wrong' and takes a strong view |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/sc-criticizes-manipur-hc-order-as-factually-wrong-and-takes-strong-view-on-meitei-communitys-st-status-11684304224228.html|website=mint }}</ref> To protest the Meitei demands for the scheduled tribe status, the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur conducted peaceful protest marches on 3 May. After one of these marches, clashes broke out between Kuki and Meitei groups near the border between the [[Churachandpur district]] and [[Bishnupur district]], followed by house burning.<ref>{{cite news |author=Esha Roy |title=Protest against ST demand turns violent in Manipur, curfew imposed in entire state |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/curfew-internet-curbs-after-manipur-protest-against-meiteis-st-tag-demand-turns-violent-8590104/|work=The Indian Express |date=3 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Esha Roy |title=In 10 years of Meitei ST demand, repeated pleas to state, Centre |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/manipur-violence-in-10-years-of-meitei-st-demand-repeated-pleas-to-state-centre-8687601/ |work=The Indian Express |date=27 June 2023}}
</ref>
The violence quickly spread to the Kuki-dominated [[Churachandpur]] town and the Meitei-dominated [[Imphal Valley]], targeting the minority community in each area. According to [[Reuters]], 77 Kukis and 10 Meiteis were killed within a week.<ref name="Reuters bunkers"/>

In addition to the ST status, other issues had been festering prior to the violence. For example, the Kuki people in the hill districts saw themselves as being the target of the state government's treatment of indigenous land rights concerns.<ref name="Quint ST status"/>
There have been evictions of Kuki communities as a result of efforts to survey forests, which were ostensibly made to stop the cultivation of [[poppy]].<ref>
{{cite news |last1=Saikia |first1=Arunabh |date=13 June 2023 |title=Why Manipur's civil war is being linked to the narcotics trade |work=[[Scroll.in]] |url=https://scroll.in/article/1050773/poppy-in-the-hills-why-manipurs-civil-war-is-being-linked-to-narcotics-trade }}
</ref><ref name="USIP June">
{{Cite web |author1=Binalakshmi Nepram |author2=Brigitta W. Schuchert |title=Understanding India's Manipur Conflict and Its Geopolitical Implications |publisher=United States Institute of Peace |date=2 June 2023 |url=https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/06/understanding-indias-manipur-conflict-and-its-geopolitical-implications}}
</ref><ref>
{{Cite news |title=Poppy cultivation, eviction drives, illegal influx, old scars—why Manipur is burning |newspaper=India Today |date=5 May 2023 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/poppy-cultivation-eviction-drives-illegal-influx-old-scars-why-manipur-is-burning-2369831-2023-05-05 }}
</ref>{{clarify|date=August 2023|reason=It is unclear why efforts to "survey" results in evictions}}

The Meitei community has also experienced a rise in insecurity as a result of the flood of refugees from [[Myanmar]] following the [[2021 Myanmar coup d'état|military coup]] in [[Internal conflict in Myanmar|2021]], particularly those from the [[Sagaing Region|Sagaing]] region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Supreme Court Observer |url=https://www.scobserver.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IA-Directions-19326-2023-Kaoliangpou-Kamei.pdf |website=www.scobserver.in}}</ref><ref name="USIP June"/> In one of the instances, the Manipur government have questioned the central security forces, especially the [[Assam Rifles]], of allowing illegal immigration from Myanmar.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Clarify Why and How': Manipur Govt to Assam Rifles on 718 Myanmar Nationals Who Entered India |url=https://thewire.in/security/clarify-why-and-how-manipur-govt-to-assam-rifles-on-718-myanmar-nationals-who-entered-india |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=700 from Myanmar entered in 2 days, push them back: Manipur to Assam Rifles |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-government-takes-serious-note-of-illegal-immigrants-orders-action-2411278-2023-07-25 |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=India Today |date=25 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-03 |title=Assam Rifles to tighten security along India-Myanmar border to stop influx in Mizoram |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/assam-rifles-to-tighten-security-along-india-myanmar-border-to-stop-influx-in-mizoram/articleshow/99951155.cms |access-date=2023-11-20 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> Many organisations have protested against Assam Rifles of siding with the Kuki communities, including instance of Manipur police filing FIR against its personnel for enabling Kuki militants to escape by obstructing the police movements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-08 |title=Assam Rifles 'gave chance to Kuki militants to escape': Manipur Police FIR |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/assam-rifles-kuki-militants-escape-manipur-police-fir-8882653/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-07 |title=Withdraw Assam Rifles from Manipur: BJP leader to PM Modi |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/imphal/withdraw-assam-rifles-from-manipur-bjp-leader-to-pm/articleshow/100808403.cms |access-date=2023-11-20 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

According to several organisations, there have been accounts of partisan killings by security forces, as well as allegations of the police siding with the Meitei community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India: Investigate Police Bias Alleged in Manipur Violence |publisher=Human Rights Watch |date=30 May 2023 |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/05/30/india-investigate-police-bias-alleged-manipur-violence }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipur Violence: Several Organisations Seek President's Rule Citing Biases In Administration |date=23 June 2023 |website=IndiaTimes |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/manipur-violence-several-organisations-seek-presidents-rule-citing-biases-in-administration-606877.html }}</ref>

== Background ==
{{Further|Hill tribes of Northeast India|Ethnic relations in India|Insurgency in Manipur}}
[[File:MANIPUR district map.svg|thumb|right|280px|The districts of Manipur as of 2011. Some of the subdivisions have since become independent districts. The districts in the middle, the Imphal valley: Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur densely populated and dominated by the Meitei people, whereas the outer districts are primarily hilly, sparsely populated and dominated by non-Meitei peoples. The people in the valley are predominantly Hindu and those in the Hills are primarily Christians.]]
[[File:Manipur-scstothers-2011.svg|thumb|right|280px|The hills and valley districts have very different Scheduled Caste (CS) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) population compositions according to the 2011 Census figures. The "Others" category include the general category as well as [[Other Backward Class]] (OBC) and [[Economically Weaker Section]] (EWS) categories.]]
[[File:Manipur-religion-2011.svg|thumb|right|280px|The hills and valley districts have very different religious compositions too compositions according to the 2011 Census figures. The data for [[Sikhism]], [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]], and "unstated" are not shown since they are less than 1% in both the hills and valley districts. The "Some Others" category include other religions, as well as uncategorised religion such as [[Sanamahism]].]]
Manipur is a state in [[northeast India]], bordering [[Myanmar]] to its east and south. The Imphal Valley constitutes about 10% of the geographical area of the state with 57% of the population,<ref>{{citation |last1=Golson |first1=Ningthoujam |title=Characteristics of Population in the Valley Districts of Manipur, India |date=September–December 2018 |url=https://www.ngji.in/index.php/ngji/article/download/438/356 |journal=National Geographical Journal of India |volume=64 |number=3–4 |last2=Singh |first2=Kh. Pradipkumar}}</ref> predominantly [[Meitei people|Meitei]], who are majority Hindus, with minorities of Muslims and native [[Sanamahism]] followers.<ref name="Saikia 5 May"/> The surrounding hills constitute 90% of the geographical area of the state with 43% of the population belonging to 34 tribal groups broadly categorized as [[Naga people|Nagas]] and [[Kuki people|Kukis]].<ref name="Saikia 5 May"/> The Nagas dominate the northern districts while the Kukis are predominant in the south. The tribal people have the [[Scheduled Tribe]] (ST) status, whereas the Meitei have been accorded [[Other Backward Class]] (OBC) status, with some classified as [[Scheduled Caste]]s (SC) in certain areas.{{sfn|Haokip|2015|loc=p. 86, note 9: "There are seven SC communities in Manipur, namely, Loi, Yaithabi, Dhobi, Muchi or Rabidas, Namsudra, Patni and Sutradhar. OBCs of the state include Nepali, Meitei/Meetei (including Meitei Brahmin, Meitei/Meetei Sanamahi, Meitei Pangal and Rajkumar) and Teli."}}

Scholars write that the hill tribes, whose administration had largely been left to the respective chiefs known as Khullakpa by the Meitei Kings, came to be administered by the British after the [[Anglo-Manipur War]] of 1891. The British administrative control became more intensive after the Kuki Rebellion of 1917–19 and they continued to administer the hill areas directly until 1947.{{sfn|Sitlhou|2015|pp=71–72}}<ref name=":0">{{harvnb|Kshetri|2006|pp=3–5}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{harvnb|Dena|2014|pp=60, 75, 82–84}}</ref> Scholars believe the colonial administration employed the "divide and rule" policy which widened existing divide between the peoples.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1"/>{{sfn|Kamei|2023|loc=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Vf_KEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT80 p. 80]}} On the contrary, the hill regions are noted by some scholars as forming part of [[Southeast Asian Massif#Zomia|Zomia]] inhabited by "non-state" peoples. They came to be administered only after the [[Kuki Rebellion of 1917–1919]],<ref>"On the other hand, the hill areas of the present-day Manipur had been a free hill country and largely unadministered even during the British rule till the Kuki uprising (1917–19). It is treated as ‘illegible space’ (Scott 2000) and a separate sub-cultural zone within the larger region known as ‘Zomia’ and the people regarded as ‘non-state peoples’ (Scott 2009: 23)." {{harvcol|Haokip|2015|pp=84–85}}</ref> After Indian independence, the hill tribes continued to enjoy a protected status. Even though the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960, prohibits transfer of tribal land to non-tribals except by special permission,<ref>
Rahul Karmarkar, [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/belief-that-meiteis-cannot-settle-in-manipurs-hills-is-a-myth-says-leader-of-kuki-apex-body/article66870315.ece Belief that Meiteis cannot settle in Manipur's hills is a myth, says leader of Kuki apex body], The Hindu, 21 May 2023.
</ref><ref>
{{Cite web |title=The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 |url=https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/1531/1/196033.pdf |website=indiacode.nic.in |at=paragraph 158}}
</ref> the seventh amendment (2015) is seen as an attempt by the valley dwellers to grab tribal land.<ref>"One of the main concerns in the agitation against the three ‘anti-tribal bills’ passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly is the one that has to do with the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960, that is the MLR&LR (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015. The main opposition to this bill is the idea of land grabs by the valley dwellers and the state's hegemony through forceful intrusion to the land resources of the tribal people and infringement of their customary rights (Kipgen 2017: 506)"{{harvcol|Kipgen|2018|p=112}}</ref> The valley-based Meitei dominate the political establishment. Of the 60 Assembly constituencies, 40 are held by the valley and 20 are in the hill districts.<ref name="Saikia 5 May">
{{cite news |author=Jaideep Saikia |date=5 May 2023 |title=Manipur violence: How Christianisation widened socio-cultural gap between Meiteis of Valley and Hill tribes |newspaper=Firstpost |url=https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/manipur-violence-how-christianisation-widened-socio-cultural-gap-between-meiteis-of-valley-and-hill-tribes-12550522.html}}
</ref><ref name="Quint ST status">
{{Cite news |author=Tejas Harad |date=6 May 2023 |title=ST Status for Manipur's Meiteis: What is at Stake? |work=The Quint |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/manipur-violence-st-status-for-meiteis-valley-vs-hills}}
</ref> The tribal population is not prohibited from settling in the valley region.<ref name="BBC 4 May">
{{Cite news |date=4 May 2023 |title=Manipur: Curfew in Indian state after protests turn violent |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65478547}}
</ref><ref name="HT 5 May">
{{cite news |author=Utpal Parashar |date=5 May 2023 |title=Manipur clashes: Genesis of the decades-old Meitei-Kuki divide |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/clashes-between-kukis-and-meiteis-in-manipur-over-st-status-proposal-for-meitei-community-violence-and-damage-reported-101683225905138.html |url-access=subscription |newspaper=Hindustan Times}}
</ref><ref name="Guardian 5 May">
{{cite news |last1=Dhillon |first1=Amrit |title=Indian troops ordered to 'shoot on sight' amid violence in Manipur |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/05/indian-troops-ordered-to-shoot-on-sight-amid-violence-in-manipur |work=The Guardian |date=5 May 2023}}
</ref> Kukis state that they do not want to come to the valley but they have to since there are no roads, schools or hospitals in the hills.<ref>
{{Cite news |date=2023-07-05 |title=People say Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun are RSS Creations: Kim Gangte |url=https://www.newsclick.in/people-say-arambai-tenggol-and-meitei-leepun-are-rss-creations-kim-gangte |newspaper=NewsClick}}
</ref>

Tribal groups have complained that the government spending is unduly concentrated in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley.<ref name="Express-faultlines">{{cite news |title=Manipur's ethnic faultlines: Kuki-Meitei divide & recent unrest |work=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/manipurs-ethnic-faultlines-violent-protests-kukis-and-nagas-8594147/}}</ref>

=== Scheduled Tribe status for Meitei ===
The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) began demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei people in 2012.<ref>"The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) has been demanding ST status for the Meiteis since the latter part of 2012." {{harvcol|Haokip|2015|p=85}}</ref> The STDCM claims the status will restore the harmonious relationship between the valley and the hills peoples before the Manipur's merger with India in 1949.<ref>"To them the demand is to recover the cohesive, harmonious and peaceful society before the merger of Manipur into India on 21 September 1949 (Imphal Free Press 2013). They also emphasised the need to protect their endangered culture and identity by way of being listed as ST under the power vested to the president by Article 342(1) of the Indian Constitution." {{harvcol|Haokip|2015|p=86}}</ref> On the other hand, the hills people view this demand as an attempt to reduce the effectiveness of the Naga and Kuki demands, and enable the Meitei to make inroads into the hill regions.<ref>"To the hill tribal people of Manipur, the demand for ST status by STDCM is a ploy to attenuate the fervent political demands of the Kukis and Nagas, as well as a tacit strategy of the dominant valley dwellers to make inroads into the hill areas of the state." {{harvcol|Haokip|2015|pp=87–88}}</ref>

It was reported later that the Union government and the state government had considered the issue of ST status for Meitei twice, once in 1982 and a second time in 2001, and rejected it both times. This fact was not publicised at the beginning of the conflict.<ref>
Abhinay Lakshman, [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/st-status-for-meiteis-was-considered-and-rejected-in-1982-and-2001-government-records-show/article67420818.ece ST status for Meiteis was considered and rejected in 1982 and 2001, government records show], The Hindu, 17 October 2023.
</ref>

=== Political background ===
[[Okram Ibobi Singh]] of the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) had been in power for three terms from 2002. The [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) came to power in 2017 for the first time under the leadership of [[N. Biren Singh]] who managed to out-maneuver the INC, the single largest party, and formed a minority government. In the [[2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly election]], Biren Singh led the BJP to a clear majority increasing the seat tally from 21 (2017) to 32 (2022) in an Assembly of 60 and continued as the [[List of chief ministers of Manipur|Chief Minister]].<ref>
{{cite news |title=A default choice — On return of Biren Singh as Manipur CM |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-default-choice-on-return-of-biren-singh-as-manipur-cm/article65246409.ece |work=The Hindu |date=22 March 2022 |quote=It was under Mr. Singh's leadership that the BJP not only increased its seat share in the Manipur Assembly, from 21 (in 2017) to 32 (in 2022), but had also managed to weather several storms while running a minority government in the last five years. Unlike 2017, when the BJP formed the government in dubious circumstances — the Congress had emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats — the ruling party had a clear-cut majority on its own this time.}}</ref>

=== Refugees from Myanmar ===
The [[Myanmar civil war (2021-present)|renewed outbreak of civil war in Myanmar]] in neighbouring [[Chin state]] has also been claimed to be a reason for the violence in Manipur.<ref name=wapomyanmar/> Fighting in the [[Chin theater]] has caused an influx of refugees in the states of Manipur and Mizoram. As of May 2023, according to the chief minister, 2,000 refugees had entered Manipur and were housed in shelters.<ref>[https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/manipur-cm-n-biren-singh-says-2000-myanmarese-currently-in-the-state/cid/1933909 Manipur CM says 2,000 Myanmarese in the state], ''The Telegraph'' (India), 3 May 2023. {{ProQuest|2808435678}}</ref> Other estimates put the number between 5,000 and 10,000. Rumours have circulated that Chin refugees are receiving assistance from Kuki villagers and are helping to enhance the "political clout" of the Kukis.<ref>
Schulu Duo, [https://www.borderlens.com/reports/fault-lines-drawn-demand-for-nrc-grows-in-manipur/ Fault Lines Drawn: Demand for NRC grows in Manipur], Borderlens, 13 April 2023.
</ref>
This has caused the Meiteis to brand all Kukis as "illegal immigrants".<ref>
Zaina Azhar Sayeda, [https://www.outlookindia.com/national/how-myanmar-civil-war-is-affecting-the-kuki-zo-people-in-manipur-violence-news-333297 How Myanmar Civil War Affects The Kuki-Zo People In Manipur], Outlook, 28 November 2023.
</ref>
[[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Minister of Home Affairs]] [[Amit Shah]] stated that the influx of [[Kuki people]] from Myanmar created insecurity amongst the [[Meitei people]] of Manipur and triggered the violence.<ref>
Angshuman Choudhury, [https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/centre-blaming-myanmar-migrants-for-manipur-violence-is-dangerous/article67212603.ece Centre blaming Myanmar migrants for Manipur violence is dangerous], Frontline, 24 August 2023.
</ref>

=== International factors ===
China perceives that [[Look East policy (India)|India's Act East Policy]], and closer relations with Southeast Asian nations pose a serious threat to its ambition to establish its hegemony in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-13 |title=How Manipur conflict fits into broader game plan of China |url=https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/how-manipur-conflict-fits-into-broader-game-plan-of-china-13119162.html |website=Firstpost }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hazarika |last2=Sarma |first1=Obja Borah |first2=Chandan Kumar |date=Jun 2022 |title=The "China Factor" in the Northeast Component of India's Act East Policy: Implications for Security, Connectivity, Commerce |url=https://ics.um.edu.my/img/files/IJCSV13N1/IJCS%20V13N1-03-Obja-Chandan.pdf |journal=International Journal of China Studies |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=63–78}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=China's Role in Myanmar's Internal Conflicts |url=https://www.usip.org/publications/2018/09/chinas-role-myanmars-internal-conflicts |website=United States Institute of Peace }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Horam |first=Mungreishang |date=2022 |title=Contextualizing India's "Act East" Policy Within the Geopolitical Dynamics of the Asia-Pacific Region |journal=Indian Journal of Asian Affairs |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=58–72 |jstor=27146667 |issn=0970-6402}}
</ref> On 15 August 2023, Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh said that certain misunderstandings, actions of vested interests and foreign conspiracies to destabilise the state led to widespread violence in Manipur.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karmakar |first=Sumir |title=Foreign conspiracy behind Manipur violence: NIA |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/manipur/foreign-conspiracy-behind-manipur-violence-nia-2707794 |website=Deccan Herald }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Bikash |date=2023-08-15 |title=Misunderstandings and conspiracies by foreigners led to violence: Manipur CM N Biren Singh |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/actions-of-vested-interests-and-conspiracies-of-foreign-nationals-trying-to-destabilise-the-state-manipur-cm-biren-singh/articleshow/102749110.cms?from=mdr |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389 |ref=none}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 Aug 2023 |title=Misunderstanding, conspiracies of foreign nationals led to Manipur violence: CM |website=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/misunderstanding-conspiracies-of-foreign-nationals-led-to-manipur-violence-cm-1503212050.html}}
</ref>

== Antecedents ==
[[File:Religious map of Manipur.png|thumb|right|280px|Map of the religious distribution in Manipur. Meitei Hindus (orange) and Meitei-Pangal Muslims (green) are predominant in the dense urban valley region, whereas Christians (blue) predominate in the sparsely populated tribal hilly regions]]
On 7 November 2022, the Government of Manipur passed an order setting aside previous orders from the 1970s and 1980s that excluded villages from proposed [[Churachandpur-Khoupum protected forest]], which automatically placed 38 ancestral villages in Churachandpur in the encroaching category.<ref>"Tension has been escalating when the state government issued a special order on 7 November 2022 which set aside the orders passed in objection cases, excluding villages from the proposed Churachandpur–Khoupum Protected Forest in the 1970s and the early 1980s. With this order, 38 villages in Churachandpur district suddenly became encroachers in their ancestral lands." {{harvcol|Haokip|2023|p=7}}</ref> In February 2023, the [[BJP]] state government began an eviction drive in districts of [[Churachandpur]], Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal, declaring the forest dwellers as encroachers—a move seen as anti-tribal.<ref>{{cite news |author=PTI |title=The genesis of the Manipur problem: All you need to know about the recent crisis |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/the-genesis-of-the-manipur-problem-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-recent-crisis/cid/1934665 |work=Telegraph India |date=6 May 2023 |quote=The eviction drive, which began in February, declared the forest dwellers as encroachers and was seen as anti-tribal.}}</ref><ref name="EXPRESS" />

In March, the [[Second N. Biren Singh ministry|Manipur Cabinet]] decided to withdraw from the [[Ceasefire|Suspension of Operation]] agreements with three Kuki militant groups, including the [[Kuki National Army]] and the [[Zomi Revolutionary Army]], though the central government did not support such a withdrawal.<ref name="EXPRESS">
{{cite news |author=Deeptiman Tiwary |date=5 May 2023 |title=Rising protests, spurts of violence, late police reaction – what went wrong in Manipur |work=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/rising-protests-violence-late-police-reaction-what-went-wrong-manipur-8593988/}}
</ref><ref name="Telegraph" />{{Efn|The Suspension of Operations agreement is a tripartite agreement between the central government, the state government and 25 Kuki militant groups. The state government's withdrawal is unlikely to have had any effect on the ground without the central government support.}} Several Manipuri organisations also demonstrated in New Delhi to press for a [[National Register of Citizens]] (NRC) to be created with 1951 as the base year, complaining of abnormal population growth in hill areas.<ref name="IT decades-old">
{{cite news |author=Yudhajit Shankar Das |date=4 May 2023 |title=Manipur violence: State is burning, but what is the decades-old fuel behind the fire |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-violence-clashes-nrc-meitei-kuki-naga-imphal-valley-illegal-immigration-myanmar-reserve-forests-biren-singh-2368476-2023-05-04 |newspaper=India Today}}
</ref> The first violence broke out as five people were injured in a clash in the Kangpokpi district, where protesters gathered to hold a rally against "encroachment of tribal land in the name of reserved forests, protected forests and wildlife sanctuary".<ref name="Telegraph" /> While, the state cabinet stated that the government will not compromise on "steps taken to protect the state government's forest resources and for eradicating poppy cultivation".<ref name="Telegraph" /> Social scientists, such as Dhanabir Laishram, have argued that targeting those poor Kuki cultivators alone would be futile. A rich section of the Meitei community is blamed to be one of the major funders.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Lien Chongloi |title=Dispelling Some Misleading Claims About the Violence in Manipur |website=The Wire |date=27 May 2023 |url=https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-violence-claims-counterclaims-meitei-kuki}}</ref> On 11 April, three churches in [[Imphal]]'s Tribal Colony locality were razed for being illegal constructions on government land.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |title=The genesis of the Manipur problem: All you need to know about the recent crisis |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/the-genesis-of-the-manipur-problem-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-recent-crisis/cid/1934665 |work=Telegraph India |date=6 May 2023}}</ref>

On 20 April 2023, a judge of the [[Manipur High Court]] directed the [[Government of Manipur|state government]] to "consider request of the [[Meitei people|Meitei]] community to be included in the [[Scheduled tribes|Scheduled Tribes]] (ST) list."<ref>{{cite news |last=Majhi |first=Suman |date=5 May 2023 |title=কী কারণে জ্বলছে মণিপুর? আন্দোলনকারীদের দাবি কী? জানুন সবটা |url=https://eisamay.com/north-east-india/what-situation-happened-in-manipur-know-details/articleshow/100009966.cms |newspaper=Eisamay |language=bn}}</ref> The [[Kuki people|Kukis]] feared that the ST status would allow the Meiteis purchase land in the prohibited [[Sadar Hills|hilly areas]].<ref name="IT decades-old" />

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) called for a total shut down on 28 April in protest of the state government actions, a day that also happened to have been scheduled for the chief minister [[N. Biren Singh]] to visit [[Churachandpur district|Churachandpur]] for the inauguration of an open air gym. The day before the visit, a mob set fire to the gym and vandalised it. The ITLF claimed that it started the agitation as the state government was not addressing the plight of the people.<ref name="IT 4 May how" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-28 |title=Manipur violence: Mob sets open gym facility on fire ahead of CM's visit, Section 144 imposed in Churachandpur |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/manipur-violence-mob-sets-open-gym-facility-on-fire-ahead-of-cms-visit-section-144-imposed-in-churachandpur/3066599/ |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref> [[Section 144]] was invoked on 28 April as well as a five-day Internet shut down. The protesters clashed with the police and tear gas shells were used to disperse the mobs.<ref name="IT 4 May how">{{cite news |last=Hussain |first=Afrida |date=4 May 2023 |title=How Manipur violence unfolded: A timeline of events |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-violence-tribals-protest-meiteis-kukis-clash-timeline-of-events-2368651-2023-05-04 |newspaper=India Today}}</ref>

What has been said, openly, including by Chief Minister Biren Singh, is that too many “foreign” (Myanmar Kukis) are involved, there is foreign (Chinese, he insinuated) hand, and that the Kuki tribals are forest encroachers, illicit poppy growers, drug smugglers and terrorists. “Terrorist” is an expression he has used for them more than once and it has been widely reported in the national broadsheets.<ref name="the-print-biren-statements">{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Shekhar |date=22 July 2023 |title=New BJP govt, old divisive ways. Biren's rule shows party never gave Manipur real change |work=[[ThePrint]] |url=https://theprint.in/national-interest/new-bjp-govt-old-divisive-ways-birens-rule-shows-party-never-gave-manipur-real-change/1680803/ }}</ref>

== Overview ==
=== Initial riots ===
{{OSM Location map
|   coord = {{coord|24.423|93.7157}}
|    zoom = 13
|   width = 300
|  height = 300
| caption = Villages at the Churachandpur-Bishnupur district border
| mark-coord =   <!--coords for red mark -->
|      label =  Triangle        <!--text displayed next to red mark -->
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}}
On 3 May, the tribal organisation All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM), opposing the Meitei demand for ST status, conducted a "Tribal Solidarity March". Tens of thousands of protesters participated in the march across all hill districts of Manipur.<ref name="IT 4 May how"/><ref name="IT decades-old"/> According to the Union Home Ministry, the call for the march also generated a "counter response" by the Meiteis,<ref name="Supreme Court leave petition">
[https://main.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2023/19206/19206_2023_1_7_45953_Judgement_07-Aug-2023.pdf Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary No 19206 of 2023: Dinganglung Gangmei vs. Mutum Churamani Meetei & Others], The Supreme Court of India, August 2023.
"... large-scale violence broke out in the State of Manipur on 03.05.2023 ''after'' a Tribal Solidarity March undertaken by All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM).... The call for this march led to a ''counter response'' by Meiteis. Thereafter large-scale violence broke out in the State of Manipur...".
</ref> and protests and rallies were called at various locations in the Imphal Valley.<ref>[https://www.borderlens.com/2023/05/03/manipur-erupts-in-violence/ Manipur erupts in violence even as massive crowd show up for tribal solidarity rally], Borderlens, 4 May 2023. "Throughout the day tension was palpable as valley based Meitei groups began protests and rallies to counter the tribal solidarity march."</ref> Reports were received of a counter-blockade at [[Torbung]] near the [[Bishnupur district|Bishnupur]]–[[Churachandpur district|Churachandpur]] district border,<ref name="Sangai 4 May Torbung">
{{Cite news |date=4 May 2023 |title=Tribal Solidarity March takes ugly turn; houses, offices, vehicles burnt |work=The Sangai Express |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2023/5/4/OSR-CorrespondentsIMPHAL-May-3-Thousands-of-people-took-out-the-Tribal-Solidarity-March-in-t.html |at=Churachandpur section |quote=Reports about a clash between people who had imposed a counter-blockade at Torbung and those returning from the rally started doing the rounds at Torbung. The stand-off that initially started with pelting stones soon escalated with vehicles and properties being targeted. Violence and arson rapidly engulfed the neighbouring Kangvai area as people were seen leaving their homes and running into an open field.}}
</ref><ref name="Hindu 3 May" /><ref>
[https://thewire.in/video/watch-meitei-leepun-pramot-singh-karan-thapar-manipur-violence-kukis Watch | Meitei Pride Group's Threat: 'Kukis Mainly Illegal, Modi Must Intervene or There'll Be Civil War’], The Wire, 6 June 2023. '[Pramot Singh is] also questioned about his tweet of May 2 (24 hours before the troubles began) where the Meitei Leepun official Twitter handle called for a counter-blockade adding, “it's our duty to enforce our position physically”.
</ref> and a counter-agitation in the surrounding valley areas (such as the Kangvai village), where houses were attacked by Meitei mobs.<ref name="Borderlens 3 May Kangvai">
[https://www.borderlens.com/2023/05/03/manipur-erupts-in-violence/ Manipur erupts in violence even as massive crowd show up for tribal solidarity rally], Borderlens, 4 May 2023. "Unidentified men attacked tribal houses in Kangvai along the Bishnupur-Churachandpur border. Police personnel could be seen following the mob as it went on rampaging and vandalising houses."
</ref><ref name="Sangai 4 May Moirang">
{{Cite news |date=4 May 2023 |title=Tribal Solidarity March takes ugly turn; houses, offices, vehicles burnt |work=The Sangai Express |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2023/5/4/OSR-CorrespondentsIMPHAL-May-3-Thousands-of-people-took-out-the-Tribal-Solidarity-March-in-t.html |at=Moirang section |quote=(Lead paragraph: Several houses, shops and vehicles have been torched at Torbung, Bangla, Kangvai and Phougakchao Ikhai situated along the adjoining areas of Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts.) It is reported that the properties were torched for launching a counter agitation against the Solidarity March of ATSUM.}}
</ref><ref>
* {{cite news |author=Jon Suante |title=Manipur Govt Brings in Army, Assam Rifles to Curb Violence, CM Urges Peace on TV |newspaper=The Wire |date=4 May 2023 |url=https://thewire.in/politics/manipur-after-violence-during-protest-marches-curfew-imposed-mobile-internet-suspended |quote=The miscreants’ act resulted in a clash between the villagers of Churachandpur and Bishnpur districts, around Kangvai locality where the majority population belongs to the Kuki tribal community. Locals told ''The Wire'' their houses were burnt, forcing dozens of them to rush to nearby forests for shelter and safety.}}
* {{cite news |last=Das |first=Yudhajit Shankar |date=4 May 2023 |title=Manipur violence: State is burning, but what is the decades-old fuel behind the fire |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-violence-clashes-nrc-meitei-kuki-naga-imphal-valley-illegal-immigration-myanmar-reserve-forests-biren-singh-2368476-2023-05-04 |newspaper=India Today |quote='They [Meitei mobs] only moved back only after Kukis from neighbouring villages and towns came to confront them. The initial violence was in Kangvai village. Police and commandos remained mute spectators and sided with them as they went about ransacking and destroying houses. Over 30 people have been injured,' says [Kelvin Neihsial of All Manipur Tribal Union].}}
* {{Cite news |author=Lien Chongloi |title=Dispelling Some Misleading Claims About the Violence in Manipur |website=The Wire |date=27 May 2023 |url=https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-violence-claims-counterclaims-meitei-kuk |quote=According to eyewitness accounts, many Meitei volunteers who were held up at Kakwa [Kwakta] areas started moving towards Torbung and Kangvai areas and began torching Kuki houses. The first victim of that mob attack was Haopu Kipgen from Torbung Village; he was bludgeoned to death. The first casualty with torching of houses, therefore, was a Kuki.}}
* {{cite news |author=Sudha Ramachandran |title=Kham Khan Suan Hausing on Why Manipur Is up in Flames |newspaper=The Diplomat |date=12 June 2023 |url=https://thediplomat.com/2023/06/kham-khan-suan-hausing-on-why-manipur-is-up-in-flames/ |quote=These protest rallies were peaceful. Yet they were met with counter-blockades by various Meitei civil society organizations in various parts of the valley. Meitei miscreants burned down the Anglo-Kuki War (1917-19) Centenary Memorial Gate at Leisang village and beat up Kuki boys returning from a protest rally. Such incidents escalated into mob fighting. As the Meitei mobs burned down some Vaiphei-speaking houses in Kangvai village later, the ethnopolitical conflict spread like wildfire and transformed large parts of the state into killing fields.}}
</ref>
Two dead bodies were discovered in the Kangvai village and tyres were burnt at the base of the Anglo-Kuki War Memorial gate at Leisang as an apparent provocation.<ref name="IE 26 July">
{{cite news |author=Deeptiman Tiwary |title=An arrest, crackdown and deep distrust: Manipur fire had been simmering for over a year |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=26 July 2023 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/arrest-crackdown-deep-distrust-manipur-simmering-for-over-a-year-8861234/  |id={{ProQuest|2841943429}} |quote=Things began to turn ugly around 2.15 pm that day after a tyre was seen burning along the plaque of the Kuki War memorial gate near Torbung, kilometers ahead of Churachandpur. Around the same time, police found two bodies in Kangvai village, a kilometre away from Torbung. Following this, massive crowds began building up on the Torbung-Kangwai stretch of the Imphal-Churachandpur highway.}}
</ref><ref name="Chongloi 27 May Torbung">
Lien Chongloi, [https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-violence-claims-counterclaims-meitei-kuki Dispelling Some Misleading Claims About the Violence in Manipur], The Wire, 27 May 2023. "On May 3, while a peaceful protest was underway at the Kuki-majority Churachandpur town, news had reached the hill areas that the Anglo-Kuki Centenary Gate at Leisang-Monglenphai was set on fire by unidentified Meitei miscreants. According to eyewitness accounts, many Meitei volunteers who were held up at Kakwa [Kwakta] areas started moving towards Torbung and Kangvai areas and began torching Kuki houses. The first victim of that mob attack was Haopu Kipgen from Torbung Village; he was bludgeoned to death. The first casualty with torching of houses, therefore, was a Kuki."
</ref><ref name="Suan chilling methods">
Kham Khan Suan Hausing, [https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/manipur-riots-chilling-methods-madness-8592834/ Manipur riots: The chilling methods in the madness], The Indian Express, 5 May 2023. {{ProQuest|2809434306}}. "The immediate spark for the violence was provided by the retaliatory destruction of the Anglo-Kuki War Memorial Gate in Leisang and razing of Vaiphei houses in Kangvai village by Meitei mobs following the beating up of a Meitei driver whose tripper truck hit a bike and ran over a stock of water bottles kept for use by peaceful tribal protestors in Lamka on the same day."</ref>

After the reportedly peaceful rally in the [[Churachandpur]] town in which 100,000 people participated,<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 May 2023 |title=Thousands march against ST demand in Manipur hill districts |work=Imphal Free Press |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/thousands-march-against-st-demand-in-manipur-hill-districts |quote=The march was a grand success in Churachandpur district where a record crowd, estimated to be more than one lakh [100,000], including students started the march from Lamka Public Ground, Hiangtam Lamka and culminated at Peace Ground, Tuibong, as reported by our Churachandpur correspondent. There were no reports of any untoward incident till 1 pm.}}</ref><ref name="Supreme Court leave petition"/> rallyists returning to the Torbung–Kangvai area{{Efn|[[Torbung]] and Kangvai are villages near the border between the [[Churachandpur district]] and the [[Bishnupur district]]. They contain both Meitei and Kuki settlements, with overlapping jurisdictions of the two districts.<ref name="Puia">{{citation |first=Roluah |last=Puia |chapter=When boundaries matter: land, laws and territorial conflict in Manipur, Northeast India |editor1=Kedilezo Kikhi |editor2=Dharma Rakshit Gautam |title=Comprehending Equity |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2021 |isbn=9781003182726 |pages=98– |doi=10.4324/9781003182726-8 |s2cid=238794539 |chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/49356615 |via=academia.edu |chapter-url-access=registration}}</ref>}} faced the "counter-blockade" by the Meitei groups. This resulted in stone-throwing and arson of vehicles and properties. Kangvai Bazar adjacent to Torbung was burnt down.<ref name="Sangai 4 May Torbung"/><ref name="Chongloi 27 May Torbung"/> These events caused a large number of Kuki-Zo people from Churachandpur side to rush to the clash site and participate in the clashes, including the burning of the [[Torbung Bangla|Bangla]] village in Churachandpur district.<ref name="Sangai 4 May Bangla">{{Cite news |date=4 May 2023 |title=Tribal Solidarity March takes ugly turn; houses, offices, vehicles burnt |work=The Sangai Express |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2023/5/4/OSR-CorrespondentsIMPHAL-May-3-Thousands-of-people-took-out-the-Tribal-Solidarity-March-in-t.html |at=Moirang section |quote=Later, a large number of people from Churachandpur side stormed towards Bangla and Torbung along Tiddim Road and destroyed several shops.}}</ref>{{efn|name="boundary"|The Bangla village (also called [[Torbung Bangla]]) is in the [[Churachandpur district]], and Torbung and Kangvai are in the [[Bishnupur district]] according to the best available information. But the border between the two districts is considered to be fluid, with Meitei and Kuki settlements on both the sides of the border and each community claiming the villages to be in the opposite district. The Manipur government has added to the confusion by its land administration policies.<ref name="Puia"/><ref name="Hindu wrongly included">Vijaita Singh, [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/several-hill-villages-in-manipur-wrongly-included-in-valley-districts-st-panel/article67296353.ece Several hill villages in Manipur wrongly included in valley districts: ST panel], The Hindu, 11 September 2023.</ref>}} About 80 people were injured in the violence who were taken to the Churachandpur District Hospital, of whom at least three people died.<ref>Kalyan Deb, [https://www.eastmojo.com/manipur/2023/05/04/manipur-violence-three-dead-in-churachandpur-two-critical/ Manipur violence: Three dead in Churachandpur, two critical], EastMojo, 4 May 2023.</ref>

By the evening of 3 May, clashes spread to the [[Churachandpur|Churachandpur town]], where Meitei settlements were attacked, and the [[Imphal|Imphal City]], where Kuki-Zo settlements were attacked. Violence continued through the night of 3 May. Residences and churches of the Kuki tribal population were attacked in the valley areas.<ref name="HT 5 May" /><ref name="Guardian 5 May" /> According to the police, many houses of the tribal population in Imphal were attacked and 500 occupants were displaced and had to take shelter in [[Lamphelpat]]. Around 1000 Meiteis affected by the violence also had to flee from the region and take shelter in [[Bishnupur district|Bishnupur]]. Twenty houses were burnt in the city of [[Kangpokpi district|Kangpokpi]].<ref name="Hindu 4 May shoot-at-sight">{{Cite news |last=Karmakar |first=Rahul |date=4 May 2023 |title=Many killed in Manipur riots; State government issues shoot-at-sight order |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/manipur-violence-government-issues-shoot-at-sight-orders-in-extreme-cases/article66812131.ece}}</ref>  Violence was observed in [[Churachandpur district|Churachandpur]], [[Kakching]], Canchipur, Soibam Leikai, Tengnoupal, Langol, Kangpokpi and Moreh while mostly being concentrated in the [[Imphal Valley]] during which several houses, places of worship and other properties were burnt and destroyed.<ref name="Hindu 3 May">{{Cite news |author=PTI |title=Curfew in eight districts of Manipur, mobile internet services suspended over tribal stir |work=The Hindu |date=3 May 2023  |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/curfew-in-eight-districts-of-manipur-mobile-internet-services-suspended-over-tribal-stir/article66809376.ece}}</ref><ref name="Hindu 4 May shoot-at-sight" />

On 4 May, fresh cases of violence were reported. The police force had to fire several rounds of [[tear gas]] shells to control the rioters.<ref name="Hindu 3 May" /> Kuki [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] [[Vunzjagin Valte]] ([[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]), who is the representative of the tribal headquarters of Churachandpur, was attacked during the riots while he was returning from the state secretariat. His condition was reported to be critical on 5 May, while a person accompanying him died.<ref name="Wire YA">{{cite news |author=Yaqut Ali |date=5 May 2023 |title=At Least 13 Killed as Violence Grips Manipur |url=https://thewire.in/politics/manipur-violence-deaths}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kundu |first=Indrajit |date=4 May 2023 |title=Manipur violence: BJP MLA attacked by mob in Imphal, critical |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-violence-bjp-mla-vungzagin-valte-attacked-by-mob-in-imphal-2368705-2023-05-04 |newspaper=India Today}}</ref> The government said around 1700 houses and numerous vehicles were burned down during the violence.<ref name="TimesNow 8 May">{{cite news |last=Sharma |first=Sumit |date=2023-05-08 |title=Manipur Violence: Death Toll Rises 60 To 1700 Houses Burnt; CM N Biren Singh Appeals To Bring Peace To The State |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/manipur-violence-death-toll-rises-to-60-1700-houses-burnt-cm-n-biren-singh-appeals-to-bring-peace-to-the-state-article-100079845 |newspaper=TimesNow}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=6 May 2023 |title=Ethnic clashes continue in India's Manipur despite army presence |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/6/ethnic-clashes-continue-in-indias-manipur-despite-army-presence |newspaper=Al Jazeera}}</ref>

=== Government response ===
A curfew was imposed across eight districts, including non-tribal dominated [[Imphal West district|Imphal West]], [[Kakching district|Kakching]], [[Thoubal district|Thoubal]], [[Jiribam district|Jiribam]], and [[Bishnupur district|Bishnupur]] districts, as well as tribal-dominated [[Churachandpur district|Churachandpur]], [[Kangpokpi district|Kangpokpi]], and [[Tengnoupal district|Tengnoupal]] districts.<ref name="WIRE">{{cite news |last=Ali |first=Yaqut |date=5 May 2023 |title=At Least 13 Killed as Violence Grips Manipur |work=The Wire |url=https://thewire.in/politics/manipur-violence-deaths}}</ref>

The Manipur government issued a [[shoot at sight]] order on 4 May.<ref name="Hindu 4 May shoot-at-sight" /> By the end of 3 May, 55 [[Column (formation)|columns]] of the [[Assam Rifles]] and the [[Indian Army]] were deployed in the region and by 4 May, more than 9,000 people were relocated to safer locations.<ref name="BBC 4 May" /><ref name="IT 4 May">{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Anupam |last2=Singh |first2=Jitendra Bahadur |date=4 May 2023 |title=In violence-hit Manipur, Army rescues 9,000 people; Amit Shah dials CM Biren Singh |newspaper=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-assam-rifles-called-manipur-fresh-violence-churachandpur-n-biren-singh-2368312-2023-05-04}}</ref><ref name="Hindu 4 May shoot-at-sight" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Army deployed in violence-hit Manipur, 9,000 people shifted to safer places |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/army-deployed-in-violence-hit-manipur-9000-people-shifted-to-safer-places/cid/1934307 |newspaper=The Telegraph (Kolkata)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=5 May 2023 |title=9,000 evacuated as clashes, arson rock Manipur |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/violence-escalates-in-manipur-as-indian-army-and-assam-rifles-called-in-to-control-clashes-between-tribal-and-meitei-communities-101683226207221.html |newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref> By 5 May, about 20,000 and by 6 May, 23,000 people had been relocated to safe locations under military supervision.<ref name="Guardian 5 May" /><ref name="Hindu 7 May">{{Cite news |date=7 May 2023 |title=Life limps back to normalcy in Manipur, curfew relaxed |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/manipur-relaxes-curfew-in-churachandpur-for-few-hours-to-allow-people-buy-essentials/article66822730.ece}}</ref> The central government airlifted 5 [[Company (military unit)|companies]] of the [[Rapid Action Force]] to the region.<ref name="Hindu 4 May army">
{{Cite news |author=Rahul Karmakar |date=4 May 2023 |title=Fifty-five Army columns deployed in violence-hit Manipur, 9,000 people shifted to safer places |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/army-deployed-in-violence-hit-manipur-4000-people-shifted/article66810943.ece}}
</ref> Nearly 10,000 army, paramilitary and [[Central Armed Police Force]]s were deployed in Manipur.<ref name="NYT 6 May">{{cite news |last1=Travelli |first1=Alex |last2=Raj |first2=Suhasini |date=6 May 2023 |title=Dozens Killed in Ethnic Clashes in India's Manipur State |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/06/world/asia/ethnic-clashes-indias-manipur-state.html |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="Hindu 6 May">{{Cite news |date=6 May 2023 |title=Manipur violence: At least 54 people dead, Imphal Valley returning to normalcy |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/manipur-violence-at-least-54-people-dead-imphal-valley-returning-to-normalcy/article66819781.ece}}</ref> As of 14 May, the total military build up in Manipur stood at 126 army columns and 62 companies of paramilitary forces.<ref name="HT 14 May CM" />

On 4 May, it was widely reported that the [[Government of India|Union government]] had invoked the [[Article 355]] of the Indian Constitution to take over the security situation of Manipur.<ref>
{{cite news |author=Utpal Parashar |title=Union govt takes reins of Manipur security |newspaper=mint  |date=4 May 2023 |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/guwahati-invokes-article-355-as-violence-rages-in-manipur-shoot-at-sight-orders-issued-internet-shut-down-11683221825780.html }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news |title=Centre invokes Article 355 as situation worsens |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2023/5/5/Guwahati-May-4The-Centre-has-reportedly-invoked-Article-355-of-the-Constitution-in-Manipur-as-the.html |newspaper=The Sangai Express}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news |title=Manipur: Centre Invokes Article 355, Takes Over Security in Violence-Hit State |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/manipur-violence-centre-takes-control-article-355 |newspaper=TheQuint |date=5 May 2023 }}
</ref> However, no notification was issued to this effect.<ref>
{{Cite news |title='Spirit being enforced, if not the letter': Congress' Jairam Ramesh on Article 355 in Manipur |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jairam-ramesh-congress-article-355-manipur-101683815124688.html |website=Hindustan Times |date=11 May 2023}}
</ref><ref name="Wire Article 355">
{{Cite news |title=Manipur: Centre Says 'No Information' on Article 355 |newspaper=The Wire |date=1 August 2023 |url=https://thewire.in/government/manipur-centre-says-no-information-on-article-355}}
</ref> Nevertheless, the Home Ministry appointed a security advisor to the Manipur chief minister, Kuldip Singh, who previously headed the [[Central Reserve Police Force|CRPF]], and an overall commander for the law and order situation, Ashutosh Sinha.<ref name="Wire Article 355" />

The insertion of troops led to several engagements between hill-based militants and the [[Indian Reserve Battalion]], resulting in at least five militant deaths. In a separate encounter, four militants were killed. By 6 May the situation had calmed down to a degree.<ref name="Hindu 6 May" /> According to journalist Moses Lianzachin, at least twenty-seven [[Church (building)|churches]] were destroyed or burned down during the violence.<ref name="Guardian 5 May" /> As of 9 May, according to the Manipur government, the death toll was over 60 people.<ref name="IE 9 May">
{{cite news |author1=Sukrita Baruah |author2=Jimmy Leivon |author3=Ananthakrishnan Gopalakrishnan |date=2023-05-09 |title=Manipur Govt puts toll at 60, Supreme Court says concerned over lives lost |newspaper=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-violence-death-toll-supreme-court-says-concerned-over-lives-lost-8598842/}}
</ref> The situation was described as "relatively peaceful" on 10 May, with the curfew being relaxed in places,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sharma |first=Saroj Kumar |date=2023-05-10 |title=Manipur 'relatively peaceful', curfew relaxed; 217 FIRs filed |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/manipur-relatively-peaceful-curfew-relaxed-217-firs-filed/articleshow/100112229.cms}}</ref> though unknown militants fired on Indian troops in an incident in Manipur's Imphal East district, injuring one.<ref>{{cite news |author=PTI |title=Manipur violence: Soldiers fired on in Imphal East; life improving elsewhere |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=10 May 2023 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/manipur-violence-soldiers-fired-imphal-east-life-improving-elsewhere-8602672/}}</ref>

On 12 May, suspected Kuki militants ambushed policemen in [[Bishnupur district]], killed one officer and injuring five others.<ref name="TOI1205">{{cite news |last=Sharma |first=Sarojkumar |date=12 May 2023 |title=Militants kidnap 3 Meiteis, kill a cop in violence-hit Manipur |work=Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/imphal/militants-kidnap-3-meiteis-kill-a-cop-in-manipur/articleshow/100169870.cms?from=mdr}}</ref> In a separate incident, a soldier was stabbed and three Meitei community members kidnapped in Torbung, [[Churachandpur district]].<ref name=TOI1205 /> A day later, the security advisor to the Manipur Government Kuldeep Singh raised the total fatality count from the violence to more than 70 deaths. This included the discovery of three Public Works Department labourers found dead in a vehicle in the Churachandpur from unknown causes.<ref name="CNBC-toll">{{cite news |date=2023-05-13 |editor-last=Mani |editor-first=Sudarsanan |title=Manipur Violence: Death toll rises to 71, says Security Advisor |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/manipur-violence-death-toll-rises-to-71-says-security-advisor-16655001.htm |newspaper=CNBC-TV18}}</ref> He added the number of internally displaced people living in camps had been significantly reduced, and that about 45,000 people had been relocated to other areas.<ref name=CNBC-toll />

On 14 May, a delegation of state ministers led by Manipur Chief Minister [[N. Biren Singh|Biren Singh]] left for New Delhi to meet Union home minister [[Amit Shah]] to discuss the situation.<ref name="HT 14 May CM" />

The internet blackout and curfew remained in place on 16 May.<ref name="Guard1606">{{cite news |last=Dhillon |first=Amrit |date=16 May 2023 |title='Separation is the only answer': Manipur violence fuels calls for separate state in India |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/16/separation-is-the-only-answer-manipur-violence-fuels-calls-for-separate-state-in-india}}</ref> Food was also reported to be scarce, with shops, schools and offices closed, and thousands of people stranded in refugee camps. Fresh violence over the weekend had led to further displacements.<ref name=Guard1606 /> On 17 May, the internet blackout was extended for five more days.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/manipur-violence-internet-ban-extended-for-5-more-days-8615023/ |title=Manipur violence: Internet ban extended for 5 more days; Assam Rifles jawan succumbs to injuries |work=The Indian Express}}</ref>

=== Recurrent violence ===
{{update section|date=January 2023}}
On 14 May, reports of fresh violence surfaced in the Torbung area, with unidentified arsonists torching more property, including houses and trucks. Five companies of Border Security Forces were deployed. In a separate incident, two Assam Rifles personnel were injured.<ref name="HT 14 May CM">{{cite news |title=Manipur unrest: CM Biren Singh visits Delhi to meet Shah; fresh violence surfaces |work=Hindustan Times |date=14 May 2023 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/manipur-chief-minister-meets-amit-shah-to-discuss-violence-situation-cabinet-ministers-accompany-on-special-flight-to-new-delhi-101684077598881.html }}</ref>

Fresh violence occurred on 29 May during which at least five people including one policeman was killed.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cop Among 5 Dead In Fresh Manipur Violence Hours Ahead Of Amit Shah Visit |newspaper=NDTV News |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cop-among-5-killed-as-fresh-violence-hits-manipur-4074750 |date=29 May 2023}}</ref>

On 14 June, at least 11 people were shot, including nine Meitei men.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-14 |title=Retaliatory strike by village guards leaves nine dead in Manipur |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/manipur-khamenlok-many-killed-june-13-2023/article66967216.ece}}</ref> Additionally, 14 were injured in a fresh outbreak. According to doctors and other senior management officials at the state's capital, the latest clash has been so extreme that many bodies have been hard to identify.<ref>{{cite news |title= Eleven killed in Manipur as new bout of ethnic violence grips India's northeast |url= https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/15/india/india-manipur-violence-deaths-government-silence-intl-hnk/index.html |work= CNN }}</ref>

A 21 year old Kuki youth was arrested for sharing a post against CM Biren Singh on social media. He was beaten to death on a street in Imphal when he was supposed to be in police custody.<ref>
{{Cite news |date=2023-07-25 |title=Manipur violence {{!}} Youth taken off police van by mob, lynched on May 4: FIR |newspaper=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-violence-youth-taken-off-police-van-by-mob-lynched-on-may-4-fir-8858299/ }}
</ref>

=== Warring groups ===
Both Meitei civil society organisations, [[Arambai Tenggol]], [[Meitei Leepun]] and Kuki militants under SoO agreement with the government were repeatedly mentioned as being involved in this ongoing violence as attackers of each other's villages.<ref name="Hindu Meitei groups">[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/probe-involvement-of-2-radical-meitei-groups-in-manipur-pogrom-tribal-student-bodies/article66868875.ece Probe involvement of 2 radical Meitei groups in Manipur pogrom: tribal student bodies], The Hindu, 19 May 2023.
</ref><ref name="Mary Guite">
Mercy Vnghianuang Guite, [https://www.indiatodayne.in/opinion/story/why-has-the-supreme-court-abandoned-the-zomi-kuki-tribals-of-manipur-579727-2023-06-15 Why has the Supreme Court abandoned the Zomi-Kuki Tribals of Manipur?], India Today NE, 15 June 2023.
</ref><ref name="Caravan 31 July">
{{citation |author=Greeshma Kuthar |title=Fire and Blood: How the BJP is enabling ethnic cleansing in Manipur |newspaper=The Caravan |date=31 July 2023 |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/conflict/how-bjp-enabling-ethnic-cleansing-manipur}}
</ref><ref name="IE activist's home">
[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-human-rights-activists-home-vandalised-8970493/ Manipur human rights activist's home vandalised], The Indian Express, 6 October 2023. 'Around the month of May – the same time violence had first broken out in the state – [human rights activist] Loitongbam in an interview with NewsClick pointed out the emergence of “some new groups called Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol”. While discussing the causes of the violence in Manipur, he said these groups had “injected militancy” into the Meitei community.'
</ref><ref name="Dhananjay Mahapatra">[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kuki-militants-erasing-meitei-villages-sc-told/articleshow/103878049.cms/ Kuki militants erasing Meitei villages, SC told], Times of India, 23 September 2023.</ref><ref name="Utpal Parashar">[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/manipur-assembly-adopts-resolution-to-abrogate-soo-deal-with-kuki-outfits-101709217505619/ Manipur assembly adopts resolution to abrogate SoO deal with Kuki outfits], Hindustan Times, 29 February 2024.</ref>
Surrendered cadres of Meitei insurgent groups, officially called "Valley-based Insurgent Groups" (VBIGs), are believed to have trained them in using arms looted from state armouries.<ref name="Scroll return">
Arunabh Saikia, [https://scroll.in/article/1055257/the-return-of-meitei-insurgents-marks-a-new-turn-in-manipur-conflict The return of Meitei insurgents marks a new turn in Manipur conflict], Scroll.in, 2 September 2023. "[The attack on Thawai Kuki village] signalled that Meitei insurgent groups, largely relegated to the jungles of Myanmar across the border, had returned to fight on behalf of their community... An intelligence officer in the Indian Army said they believe around 100-odd cadres of the KYKL and PLA had crossed over through the Taret Lok river..."
</ref><ref name="Outlook terror groups">
[https://www.outlookindia.com/national/dorment-terror-groups-like-unlf-pla-becoming-active-in-manipur-during-ethnic-conflict-creating-unrest-report-news-317253 Dorment Terror Groups Like UNLF, PLA Becoming Active In Manipur During Ethnic Conflict, Creating Unrest: Report], Outlook, 11 September 2023. "Central security agencies have warned that militant groups like UNLF and PLA have started mingling with mobs during protests to stoke further tensions, reported PTI."
</ref>
In one instance, a fierce gunfight was reported between militants operating under the Arambai Tenggol banner, and a unit of Assam Rifles.<ref>[https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/gunfight-erupts-between-arambai-tenggol-militants-and-37-assam-rifles-in-manipur-567375-2023-05-30 Gunfight erupts between Arambai Tenggol militants and 37 Assam Rifles in Manipur], India Today NE, 30 May 2023.</ref>
On 26 May, Arambai Tenggol issued an announcement stating it was "dissolving itself".<ref>
[https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/arambai-tenggol-dissolved Arambai Tenggol dissolved], Imphal Free Press, 26 May 2023.
</ref>
But its cadres were spotted at [[Pallel]] in September, dressed in police commando uniforms, attempting to break through security check posts.<ref>
PTI, [https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/manipur-death-toll-in-pallel-violence-rises-to-three-with-one-more-succumbing-to-injuries/cid/1964884 Manipur: Death Toll in Pallel violence rises to three with one more succumbing to injuries], The Telegraph (India), 9 September 2023.
</ref>

=== Casualties and victims ===
[[Reuters]] reported that, during the first week of violence, 77 Kukis and 10 Meiteis were killed.<ref name="Reuters bunkers">
Krishn Kaushik, [https://www.reuters.com/world/india/bunkers-sniper-rifles-deepening-sectarian-war-india-dents-modis-image-2023-07-28/ Bunkers, sniper rifles: Deepening sectarian war in India dents Modi's image], Reuters, 28 July 2023.
</ref>
The majority of the Kuki deaths were caused by murderous Meitei mobs, who roamed the streets of the Imphal city and other locales in the valley, attacking people in their homes and on the streets.<ref name="Caravan mobs">
{{citation |author=Greeshma Kuthar |title=Fire and Blood: How the BJP is enabling ethnic cleansing in Manipur |newspaper=The Caravan |date=31 July 2023 |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/conflict/how-bjp-enabling-ethnic-cleansing-manipur |quote=[In] the Imphal Valley, Meitei mobs led by Arambai Tenggol and Meetei Leepun, often supported by police commandos, sprang into action. They raided police armouries and carried out massacres in tribal neighbourhoods throughout the valley, killing over seventy people and destroying nearly two thousand houses.}}
</ref><ref name="Scroll two families">
Rokibuz Zaman, [https://scroll.in/article/1048633/in-imphal-victims-families-recount-two-days-of-horror In Imphal, two families recount two days of horror that ended in death], Scroll.in, 5 May 2023.</ref> By 14 May, the government's tally of casualties and property damage from the violence stood at 73 dead, 243 injured, 1809 houses burned down, 46,145 people evacuated, 26,358 people taken to 178 relief camps, 3,124 people escorted evacuation flights, and 385 criminal cases registered with the authorities.<ref name="HT 14 May CM" />

On 19 July, a video went viral showing two Kuki women, one aged in her forties and another in her twenties, being stripped, paraded naked on the streets, slapped and sexually assaulted by presumably Meitei men.<ref name="NYT video">{{Cite news |last=Raj |first=Suhasini |date=2023-07-20 |title=Video of Sexual Assault Goes Viral in India, Renewing Attention on Ethnic Conflict |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/20/world/asia/india-manipur-video-woman.html |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="indian-express-naked-women-paraded">{{cite news |last1=Baruah |first1=Sukrita |date=20 July 2023 |title=Woman stripped and raped in Manipur speaks: Police were with the mob, they left us with those men |work=[[Indian Express]] |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-sexual-assault-mob-video-women-police-8849995/ }}</ref><ref name="Wire video">{{Cite web |title=Manipur: Shocking Video Shows Two Kuki Women Paraded Naked; One Was Allegedly Gang-Raped |url=https://thewire.in/communalism/manipur-video-two-kuki-women-paraded-naked-gang-raped |website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='Manipur Police Were Present, But Didn't Help Us': Women in Harrowing Video Tell 'The Wire' |url=https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-police-women-video-paraded-naked |website=The Wire}}</ref> The women were forcibly taken away from the police station when they were fleeing mob violence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-19 |title=Women paraded naked in Manipur were forcibly taken away from police custody by mob |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tension-manipur-hills-areas-may-4-video-two-women-paraded-naked-surfaces-8849063/ |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> The younger victim was allegedly gang-raped and one of the victims' father and teenage brother were killed by the mob while trying to protect the victim. Despite the complaint being lodged no action was taken by the police for more than 2 months until the video emerged.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ellis-Petersen |first=Hannah |date=2023-07-21 |title=India: four men arrested after women stripped naked and paraded in Manipur |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/21/india-arrest-women-stripped-naked-paraded-manipur |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The Kuki community have accused the police of siding with the Meitei community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-31 |title=Investigate police bias in Manipur violence, urges Human Rights Watch |url=https://maktoobmedia.com/latest-news/investigate-police-bias-in-manipur-violence-urges-human-rights-watch/ |website=Maktoob media}}</ref> The video emerged after more than two months since the incident took place as internet was shut down in Manipur.<ref name="NYT video"/><ref name="IE video">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-20 |title=Woman stripped and raped in Manipur speaks: Police were with the mob, they left us with those men |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-sexual-assault-mob-video-women-police-8849995/ |website=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref name="Wire video"/><ref name="AJ video">{{Cite web |last=Kuthar |first=Greeshma |title=Outrage in India over video of Manipur women paraded naked, raped |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/20/outrage-in-india-over-video-of-manipur-women-paraded-naked-raped |website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref> One of the victims said that they have been “left to the mob by the police”.<ref name="IE video"/><ref name="AJ video"/> 

On 20 July, Manipur [[Chief minister (India)|Chief Minister]] [[N. Biren Singh|Biren Singh]] defended his decision to curtail Internet access in the state, citing hundreds of similar incidents occurring in the past.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipur Video: CM Biren Says '100s of Similar Cases' Happened; SC Takes Cognisance |url=https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-video-arrest-biren-singh-supreme-court |website=The Wire}}</ref> The Union government ordered social media platforms to remove  all posts showing the viral video.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Deep |first1=Aroon |title=Social media platforms told to censor posts on Manipur video |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/government-asks-twitter-other-social-media-companies-to-take-down-video-of-women-being-paraded-naked-in-manipur/article67100993.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801121107/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/government-asks-twitter-other-social-media-companies-to-take-down-video-of-women-being-paraded-naked-in-manipur/article67100993.ece |archive-date=1 August 2023 }}</ref> Seven arrests were made in the case, all of them after the viral video surfaced.<ref>{{cite news |title=One more arrested in Manipur viral video case |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/one-more-arrested-in-manipur-viral-video-case/article67118408.ece |work=PTI |date=25 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801124446/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/one-more-arrested-in-manipur-viral-video-case/article67118408.ece|archive-date=1 August 2023 |location=Imphal }}</ref>

The [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] responded within hours after the circulation of the video, warning that the court will intervene if the government fails to act.<ref>{{cite news |last1=G |first1=Ananthakrishnan |title=On Manipur video of women paraded naked, Supreme Court says will take action if govt does not |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/why-pm-congress-reacts-centre-manipur-sexual-assault-case-8849680/ |work=[[Indian Express]] |date=21 July 2023 }}</ref>

After the media reports circulated about the National Commission of Women (NCW) having knowledge of the incident as they received a complaint in the month of June, the chairperson of NCW said that she did not receive a response from authorities in Manipur, even after she forwarded the complaint thrice.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Complaint on the May 4 Assault in Manipur Was Sent to NCW in June. But It Never Got a Reply |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=21 July 2023 |url=https://thewire.in/women/manipur-a-complaint-on-the-may-4-assault-was-sent-to-ncw-but-the-complainants-never-got-a-reply }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=National Commission for Women was informed about Manipur sexual assault 38 days ago: Reports |work=[[Scroll.in]] |date=21 July 2023 |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1053037/national-commission-for-women-was-informed-about-manipur-sexual-assault-38-days-ago-reports }}</ref>

The CBI took over the case on 29 July.<ref>{{cite news |agency=The Hindu Bureau |title=CBI takes over Manipur sexual assault case investigation |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cbi-takes-over-manipur-sexual-assault-case-investigation/article67134692.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=29 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801120007/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cbi-takes-over-manipur-sexual-assault-case-investigation/article67134692.ece |archive-date=1 August 2023}}</ref> On 1 August, the Supreme Court stopped CBI from recording the two women's statements which was scheduled just two hours before the Supreme Court hearing on the case, due to objections by the women.<ref>
{{cite news |agency=The Hindu Bureau |title=Manipur sexual assault survivors object to case being transferred to CBI |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-ask-centre-manipur-firs-of-violence-lodged-against-women-violence/article67141020.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=31 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rajagopal |first1=Krishnadas |date=1 August 2023 |title= SC stops CBI from recording statements of two Manipur women victims at noon |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-stops-cbi-from-recording-statements-of-two-manipur-women-victims-at-noon/article67145122.ece |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

The home of Babloo Loitongbam, human rights activist and director of Human Rights Alert, was vandalised on 5 October 2023 for his activism. The radical Meitei organisation, Meitei Leepun, issued a "boycott call" to Loitongbam.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Manipur human rights activist's home vandalised |newspaper=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-human-rights-activists-home-vandalised-8970493/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Manipur activist Babloo Loitongbam's home attacked in Imphal |work=Scroll.in |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1057160/manipur-activist-babloo-loitongbams-home-attacked-in-imphal }}</ref> The [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] said "We are alarmed by threats to human rights defender Babloo Loitongbam by Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tenggol groups in Manipur for speaking out on communal violence since May. We urge authorities to protect him, his family and home, and hold perpetrators accountable".<ref>
[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/alarmed-unhr-over-attack-on-manipur-activist-8971867/ Alarmed: UNHR over attack on Manipur activist], The Indian Express, 7 October 2023.</ref>

== Supreme Court proceedings ==
On 31 July, the Supreme Court asked Manipur government to provide complete break-up of around 6000 FIRs related to the violence in the state. The court also expressed shock after learning that it took 14 days for the police to register even a zero FIR in the case of two women being paraded naked by a mob and were assaulted sexually in public.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rajagopal |first1=Krishnadas |title=Give us complete break-up of 6,000 FIRs, SC tells Manipur government |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/give-us-complete-break-up-of-6000-firs-sc-tells-manipur-government/article67142598.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=31 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801122706/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/give-us-complete-break-up-of-6000-firs-sc-tells-manipur-government/article67142598.ece |archive-date=1 August 2023 }}</ref> During the hearing on 1 August, the Supreme Court called the police investigations as "tardy", and said that the state underwent "absolute breakdown of the constitutional machinery".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rajagopal |first1=Krishnadas |title=Manipur status report on FIRs shows complete breakdown of constitutional machinery from May to July: Supreme Court |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/manipur-status-report-on-crimes-shows-there-was-a-complete-breakdown-of-constitutional-machinery-from-may-to-july-end-supreme-court/article67145756.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801123258/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/manipur-status-report-on-crimes-shows-there-was-a-complete-breakdown-of-constitutional-machinery-from-may-to-july-end-supreme-court/article67145756.ece |archive-date=1 August 2023 }}</ref>

On 7 August 2023, the Supreme Court took ''[[suo moto]]'' cognisance and formed a committee consisting of retired Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice [[Gita Mittal]] (who will lead the committee), former Bombay High Court judge Justice Shalini Phansaklar Joshi and former Delhi High Court judge [[Asha Menon (judge)|Asha Menon]] to look into relief and rehabilitation, and appointed former Mumbai Police Commissioner [[Dattatray Padsalgikar]] to oversee the probe.<ref>{{cite news |last1=G |first1=Ananthakrishnan |title=Supreme Court intervenes in Manipur, names probe monitor, panel of ex-judges |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-violence-sc-commences-hearing-state-proposes-district-level-sit-probe-cases-8880736/ |work=[[Indian Express]] |date=8 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808234113/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-violence-sc-commences-hearing-state-proposes-district-level-sit-probe-cases-8880736/ |archive-date=8 August 2023 |location=New Delhi }}</ref>

== Reactions ==
The [[Chief Minister of Manipur]], [[N. Biren Singh]], stated that the riots were instigated by “prevailing misunderstanding between two communities” and appealed for restoration of normality.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 May 2023 |title=Manipur violence: 'Misunderstanding, communication gap between two communities,' says CM N Biren Singh |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/manipur-violence-cm-biren-singh-8590694/ |newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref>

[[Shashi Tharoor]], a Member of Parliament, called for [[President's rule]] and blamed the BJP-led government, saying it has failed to govern the state.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 May 2023 |title=Shashi Tharoor slams BJP over Manipur situation, calls for imposition of President's rule |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/shashi-tharoor-slams-bjp-over-manipur-situation-calls-for-imposition-of-presidents-rule/article66822864.ece}}</ref>

[[Peter Machado]], the Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangalore, expressed concern that the Christian community is being made to feel insecure, adding that "seventeen churches are either [[vandalism|vandalised]], [[desecration|desecrated]] or defiled."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Salam |first1=Ziya Us |title=Christian groups, alarmed by church attacks in Manipur, urge Centre to start talks |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/christian-groups-alarmed-by-church-attacks-in-manipur-urge-centre-to-start-talks/article66817700.ece |work=The Hindu |date=5 May 2023}}</ref>

Olympic medallist [[Mary Kom]], a native of Manipur, tweeted an appeal seeking help for her home state.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 May 2023 |title='My state Manipur is burning, kindly help': Boxer Mary Kom asks PM Modi, Shah |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/manipur-violence-meitei-community-mary-kom-why-cant-we-live-in-peace-boxer-unhappy-101683183086314.html |newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref> The Union Government [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Minister of Home Affairs]] [[Amit Shah]] cancelled his campaign programs for the [[2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election|Karnataka election]] and held meetings with Biren Singh monitoring the situation in Manipur.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amit Shah Cancels Karnataka Poll Campaign Amid Manipur Violence: Report |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/amit-shah-cancels-karnataka-poll-campaign-to-monitor-manipur-situation-4007337 |newspaper=NDTV News}}</ref>

A BJP MLA, [[Dinganglung Gangmei]], petitioned the [[Supreme Court of India]] against the High Court's recommendation to the state government to add Meitei people to the Scheduled Tribes list.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 May 2023 |title=Manipur MLA moves SC against HC order on ST status for Meitei: 'Community not a tribe' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-mla-moves-sc-against-hc-order-on-st-status-for-meitei-community-not-a-tribe-8595694/ |newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BJP MLA Petitions SC Against HC Order on Recommending ST Status for Meiteis |newspaper=The Wire |url=https://thewire.in/law/bjp-mla-petitions-sc-against-hc-order-on-recommending-st-status-for-meiteis}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Manipur BJP MLA approaches Supreme Court against HC order on ST status for Meiteis |newspaper=Scroll.in |date=7 May 2023  |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1048672/manipur-bjp-mla-approaches-supreme-court-against-hc-order-on-st-status-for-meiteis }}</ref>

On 12 May 2023, all 10 Kuki MLAs, including eight from the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], issued a statement demanding a separate body be created to administer their community under the constitution of India in the wake of the violent ethnic clashes.<ref name=Scroll-10MLA>{{Cite news |title=Manipur violence: All 10 Kuki MLAs demand separate administration for their community |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1049014/manipur-violence-all-10-kuki-mlas-demand-separate-administration-for-their-community |date=12 May 2023 |newspaper=Scroll.in}}</ref> They alleged that the violence had been “tacitly supported” by the BJP-run state government, and that living under a Meitei-majority administration after the violence would be “as good as death” for their community.<ref name=Scroll-10MLA /> Five organisations of tribal students of Manipur in New Delhi also demanded a probe into the alleged involvement of two radical Meitei groups, [[Arambai Tenggol]] and Meitei Leepun in the violence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Probe involvement of 2 radical Meitei groups in Manipur pogrom: tribal student bodies |newspaper=The Hindu |date=19 May 2023 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/probe-involvement-of-2-radical-meitei-groups-in-manipur-pogrom-tribal-student-bodies/article66868875.ece}}</ref>

The [[United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] [[Volker Türk]] said in a statement that the violence in Manipur "revealed the underlying tensions between different ethnic and indigenous groups". He urged the authorities to "respond to the situation quickly, including by investigating and addressing root causes of the violence in line with their international human rights obligations".<ref>{{cite news |title=Manipur clashes find mention in UN human rights commissioner Volker Turk's statement |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/manipur-clashes-find-mention-in-un-human-rights-commissioner-volker-turks-statement-8628381/ |work=The Indian Express |date=25 May 2023}}</ref>

On 29 May, hundreds of women from Kuki, Mizo, and Zomi tribes staged a protest at [[Jantar Mantar]] in [[New Delhi]], demanding intervention by the central government to end communal tensions in Manipur. The women waved national flags and held posters declaring themselves as Indians, not immigrants, while criticising the state government stirring  tensions by evicting of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/manipur-violence-indians-not-illegal-immigrants-amit-shah-kuki-mizo-zomi-hmar-mizo-protest-jantar-mantar-delhi-11685375776515.html |title='We are Indians, not illegal immigrants' Kuki, Mizo, and other Manipur tribes protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi |work=[[Live Mint]]}}</ref>

On 30 May 2023, eleven international and national award-winning sportspersons from the state said that they will return their awards if the territorial integrity of the state is compromised. The sportspersons said that if the government does not meet their demands, they will not represent India and will not help in training new talent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Will return awards to govt if Manipur's territorial integrity is compromised: Sportspersons |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/will-return-awards-to-govt-if-manipurs-territorial-integrity-is-compromised-sportspersons/cid/1940832 |work=[[The Telegraph (India)|The Telegraph]] |agency=PTI |date=2023-05-30}}</ref>

On 1 July 2023, [[Joseph Pamplany]], Archbishop of Thalassery in [[Kerala]], said the violence is sponsored by the Modi government to destroy Christian communities in Manipur.<ref>{{cite news |title=Catholic Church Leaders in Kerala Condemn Modi Govt for Alleged 'Genocide' in Manipur |url=https://thewire.in/rights/catholic-church-leaders-in-kerala-condemn-modi-govt-for-alleged-genocide-in-manipur |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=2023-07-01 }}</ref>

On 14 July 2023, the BJP's vice-president from the state of [[Mizoram]], R. Vanramchhuanga, resigned from his post accusing BJP governments in the centre and the state of supporting demolition of churches.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mizoram BJP Vice-President Resigns, Says Manipur, Union Govts 'Supported' Demolition of Churches |url=https://thewire.in/politics/mizoram-bjp-vice-president-resigns-says-manipur-union-govts-supported-demolition-of-churches |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=14 July 2023 }}</ref>

On 20 July 2023, Modi broke his months-long silence after a video of two women being paraded naked and subjected to blatant acts of sexual assault by a group of men went viral. He said the incident shamed India and that no guilty will be spared.<ref>{{cite news |title=Modi speaks out after video of sexual assault on women in Manipur emerges |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 July 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/20/modi-speaks-out-after-video-of-sexual-assault-on-women-in-manipur-emerges}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] has been criticized for being silent on the violence for almost three months, for not visiting the state and for avoiding the broader situation in his statement after a video showing two women being paraded naked went viral.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |title=Manipur: why is there conflict and how is the government responding? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/21/manipur-india-why-is-there-conflict-and-how-is-the-government-responding |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=21 July 2023 }}</ref><ref name="scroll.in modi speech worse than silence">{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Supriya |title=Why Prime Minister Modi's speech on Manipur is worse than his silence |url=https://scroll.in/article/1052988/why-pm-modis-speech-on-manipur-is-worse-than-his-silence |work=[[Scroll.in]] |date=20 July 2023 }}</ref>

On 27 July 2023, the BJP's Bihar wing leader, Vinod Sharma, resigned alleging that the violence in the state has defamed the country.<ref>{{cite news |title='Defamed India': Bihar BJP Leader Resigns Over Manipur Violence |url=https://thewire.in/government/defamed-india-bihar-bjp-leader-resigns-over-manipur-violence |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728121604/https://thewire.in/government/defamed-india-bihar-bjp-leader-resigns-over-manipur-violence |archive-date=28 July 2023}}</ref>

On 7 August 2023, [[Kuki People's Alliance]] withdrew their support to the BJP government of the state led by N. Biren Singh.<ref>{{cite news  |title=Manipur violence: Kuki People's Alliance with 2 MLAs withdraws support to Biren govt |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nda-kuki-peoples-alliance-withdraws-support-biren-singh-govt-manipur-8879727/ |work=[[Indian Express|The Indian Express]] |date=7 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806204615/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nda-kuki-peoples-alliance-withdraws-support-biren-singh-govt-manipur-8879727/ |archive-date=6 August 2023 |location=Imphal}}</ref>

The parliamentary opposition under the [[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance]] (INDIA) tabled a no confidence motion about the crisis on August 10 in order to make Modi address the situation in more detail to parliament. Modi delivered a two-hour speech mainly focused on the accomplishments of his government and criticising the opposition for "defaming India" through the vote, to which opposition MLAs walked out. Afterwards, Modi addressed the conflict, stating that "there would soon be peace in Manipur" and that the whole country would get behind resolution efforts. The motion failed as expected due to the overwhelming BJP majority, with it being seen more as a way to force Modi to speak about the matter and showcase the unity and power of the INDIA grouping.<ref>
{{cite news |first1=Amrit |last1=Dhillon |title=Indian opposition walks out as Narendra Modi refuses to discuss Manipur conflict |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/10/indian-opposition-walks-out-as-narendra-modi-refuses-to-discuss-manipur-conflict |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=India's Modi survives no-confidence vote over his handling of ethnic violence |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/india-narendra-modi-manipur-ethnic-violence-rcna99411 |date=11 August 2023 |newspaper=NBC News}}</ref>

== Media coverage ==
Mainstream television channels from India ignored the Manipur conflict for a while, and covered it only after a viral video surfaced showing two naked women being paraded by a mob.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Deep |first1=Pratyush |title=Before viral video, little primetime space for Manipur, few ground reports by big anchors |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/07/28/before-viral-video-little-primetime-space-for-manipur-few-ground-reports-by-big-anchors |work=[[Newslaundry]] |date=28 July 2023}}</ref> However, a team of independent researchers on national media coverage of Manipur Violence argued that "The study finds some discernible patterns in this regard that indicate shortcomings and perceptible biases in the ways in which the crisis in Manipur has been covered by the ‘national’ newspapers" , and it has been found that the ''Kuki'' sources are quoted far more than the ''Meitei'' sources in the news reports of the mainstream media.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Rajkumar | last=Bobichand |date=2024-05-25 |title=The Reportage on Manipur Crisis by 'National' Media" Not Fair as it Privileges Experiences of 'Kukis' Over That of 'Meiteis': Research Report » Imphal Review of Arts and Politics |url=https://imphalreviews.in/the-reportage-on-manipur-crisis-by-national-media-not-fair-as-it-privileges-experiences-of-kukis-over-that-of-meiteis-research-report/ |access-date=2024-06-24 |work=imphalreviews.in |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=4 January 2024 |title=National Media Reportage of Manipur Violates Conflict Violates PCI Norms, Says Research Report |url=https://thefrontiermanipur.com/national-media-reportage-of-manipur-conflict-violates-pci-norms-says-research-report/ |work=The Frontier Manipur}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sitlhou |first=Makepeace |title=Press freedom concerns as India editors' body charged over Manipur report |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/5/press-freedom-concerns-as-india-editors-body-charged-over-manipur-report |access-date=2024-06-24 |work=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> Also, as per "the Wire" major newspapers and broadcast media from Manipur and the rest of India<ref>{{cite web |title=The Self-Inflicted Powerlessness of the Indian Media |url=https://thewire.in/media/the-self-inflicted-powerlessness-of-the-indian-media |website=The Wire}}</ref> have avoided reporting on violence faced by the Christian-majority Kukis, while highlighting violence by Kuki militants. It is argued that three of the most read English newspapers in the region did not even report on the incident of a mob burning a woman and a boy alive.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} [[The Sangai Express]] referred to Kukis by the adjective "aliens" in an editorial, while an editorial in the [[Imphal Free Press]] justified the villagers looting arms from the security forces in the state.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rajpurohit |first1=Shivnarayan |title='A pen can do more harm than a gun': In Manipur, Meitei-owned media is winning the 'perception' war |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/06/09/a-pen-can-do-more-harm-than-a-gun-in-manipur-meitei-owned-media-is-winning-the-perception-war |work=[[Newslaundry]] |date=9 June 2023 }}</ref>

On 21 July, [[Asian News International|ANI]] incorrectly reported that a Muslim man has been arrested in connection to the incident in which two naked women were seen paraded forcibly by a mob in a viral video. ANI later apologized for the tweet, saying that it was based on an erroneous reading of previously published tweets by Manipur Police.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Team |first1=NL |title=Kuki viral video: ANI apologises for 'inadvertently' claiming Muslim man was arrested |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/07/21/kuki-viral-video-ani-apologises-for-inadvertently-claiming-muslim-man-was-arrested |work=[[Newslaundry]] |date=21 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722142452/https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/07/21/kuki-viral-video-ani-apologises-for-inadvertently-claiming-muslim-man-was-arrested |archive-date=22 July 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Crime|India}}
* [[1993 Manipur riot]]
* [[2016 Manipur unrest]]
* [[Aigejang Shooting]]
* [[Kuki–Paite ethnic clash of 1997–1998]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Dena |first=Lal |title=British policy towards Manipur, 1762–1947 |edition=Third |publisher=Nongeen Publications |location=Imphal   |date=2014 |oclc=720162352}}
* {{cite journal |last=Haokip |first=Thongkholal |journal=Society and Culture in South Asia |title=The Politics of Scheduled Tribe Status in Manipur |volume=1 |number=1 |pages=82–89 |year=2015 |doi=10.1177/2393861714550952|s2cid=130724534 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Haokip |first=Thongkholal |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |title=Unfolding the Manipur Riots |volume=LVIII |number=19 |pages=7 |date=13 May 2023}}
* {{cite book |title=Governmentality: Power and Counter Conduct in Northeast India's Manipur and Nagaland |first=Andrew Lathuipou |last=Kamei |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2023 |isbn=9781000953664 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vf_KEAAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite book|last=Kipgen |first=Ngamjahao |editor-last1=Bhattacharyya |editor-first1=Asmita |editor-last2=Basu |editor-first2=Sudeep |chapter=Land Laws, Ownership and Tribal Identity: The Manipur Experience |title=Marginalities in India: Themes and Perspectives |publisher=Springer |year=2018 |isbn=978-981-10-5214-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Kshetri |first=Rajendra |title=District Councils in Manipur:Formation and Functioning  |publisher=Akansha |year=2006 |isbn=8183700411 |url=http://dspace.cus.ac.in/jspui/handle/1/330}}
* {{cite journal |last=Shimray |first=U. A. |title=Ethnicity and Socio-Political Assertion: The Manipur Experience |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=36 |number=39 |year=2001 |jstor=411161}}
* {{cite journal |last=Singh |first=Amom Malemnganba |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |title=Meitei Majoritarian Politics of the BJP in Manipur |volume=LVIII |number=1 |pages=10–12 |date=7 January 2023}}
* {{cite journal |title=Confronting the State: Land Rights Discourse in the Hills of Manipur |first=Hoineilhing |last=Sitlhou |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=50 |number=30 |date=25 July 2015 |pages=70–77 |jstor=24481977}}
* {{cite report|last1=Guha |first1=Seema |last2=Kapoor |first2=Sanjay |last3=Bhushan |first3=Bharat |title=Report of the Fact-Finding Mission on Media's Reportage of the Ethnic Violence in Manipur |publisher=Editor's Guild of India |date=2 September 2023 |url=https://editorsguild.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/EGI-report-on-Manipur.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905132357/https://editorsguild.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/EGI-report-on-Manipur.pdf |archive-date=5 September 2023}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{Cite news |title=Ethnic conflict rages on in India's Manipur (video) |url=https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idOV066228072023RP1 |date=2023-07-28 |work=Reuters}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manipur violence, 2023}}
[[Category:2020s in Manipur|Violence]]
[[Category:2023 crimes in India]]
[[Category:May 2023 events in India]]
[[Category:June 2023 events in India]]
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[[Category:May 2023 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:June 2023 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:July 2023 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:August 2023 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:September 2023 crimes in Asia]]
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[[Category:Mass murder in 2023]]
[[Category:Crime in Manipur|2023]]
[[Category:Ethnic conflicts in Manipur|2023]]
[[Category:Massacres in India]]
[[Category:Racism in India]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in India]]
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[[Category:Violence against indigenous peoples]]
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