Imphal, May 3: As Manipur commemorates one year of ethnic conflict, the divide between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities remains stark, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi yet to make a visit to the BJP-ruled state.
Representing the Kuki-Zo tribes in Churachandpur district, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has planned a “Kuki-Zo Awakening Day” to mark the one-year anniversary of what they term as “Meitei ethnic cleansing against Kuki-Zo”. Meanwhile, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), comprising influential Meitei organizations, has scheduled an event in Imphal to mark “365 days of Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist Aggression”.
Mass prayers and a condolence service at the Martyrs Cemetery are among the activities planned by the ITLF, accompanied by a daylong shutdown and the call for hoisting black flags across Kuki-Zo households as a symbol of remembrance and solidarity.
The COCOMI event aims to shed light on the conflict’s nature and causes while striving for collective efforts towards resolution.
In a significant development on Thursday, the radical Meitei group, Arambai Tenggol, signed a pact with the United National Liberation Front (Pambei faction), pledging to resolve disputes and protect Manipur’s integrity jointly.
The ongoing unrest has resulted in at least 227 fatalities and over 67,000 displaced individuals, with restricted movement between the two communities’ territories. Despite central forces’ heavy deployment, intermittent violence persists, dashing hopes for an imminent truce.
In a related development, an event in Delhi highlighted the plight of 31 missing community members since the violence erupted on May 3 last year, with families clinging to hope for their safe return.
On Thursday, the SBI’s Salbung branch in Churachandpur fell victim to an armed robbery, marking the fourth bank robbery in the state since the conflict began.
As Manipur grapples with the repercussions of the prolonged conflict, calls for peace and resolution resonate amidst continued uncertainty and unrest.
