MANIPUR is a north-eastern state in India, bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar, with over 3.3 million population and home to numerous ethnic groups who are often victims of violence and Hindutva extremism of BJP in India. The Manipur conflict is a decade-long, state-sponsored conflict that deprives its people of their fundamental rights and affects the resource-rich region. The State of Manipur is dominated by three prominent ethnic groups: Meitei, Kuki and Naga. The majority comprises Meitei, an ethnic Hindu group, whereas the minority comprises Kuki, Naga, and other ethnicities. Meiteis and Kukis are indigenous groups of the state and both have lived there for decades. Meiteis originally worshipped nature and later converted to the Hindu religion in the 18th century due to a strong Hindu influence. Meiteis have never accepted Kuki Christians as the indigenous population because they migrated from Myanmar. To undermine their strong ties with the region, Kukis have been labelled as ‘invaders’.

This ideology set a precedent of division amongst the state population. Owing to this historic ethnic rivalry, a video went viral on the 4th of May, 2023, displaying abhorrent scenes of abuse against three Kuki women who were dragged on the streets without clothes by Meiteis. This act of brutality further fuelled the decades-old Meitei-Kuki rivalry. Ironically, the police station was just a few yards from the crime scene. Despite receiving the best police station award in 2020, it did nothing to stop the brutality. The incident resulted in........

© Pakistan Observer