Manipur Clashes: What triggered communal violence in Manipur | Imphal News – Times of India

Manipur witnessed large-scale violence on Wednesday in multiple regions, where armed groups set fire to houses. Many homes were destroyed in several parts, including Imphal valley, inhabited mostly by the Meitei community.
On Thursday, Union home minister Amit Shah contacted the chief ministers of Manipur’s neighbouring states, including Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram, urging them to provide assistance to Manipur to resolve the ongoing situation. Shah requested their help in identifying central forces deployed within their respective jurisdictions for immediate deployment in Manipur to help restore order.
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Here’s all that you need to know about the reasons behind these violent clashes:

What Triggered Manipur Violence

Manipur is bounded by Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Myanmar. Most of Manipur is surrounded by hills, with a fertile, saucer-shaped valley in the middle
It has 10 hill districts inhabited by various tribes. About 40% of the state’s 28 lakh people (2011 census) live in the hills
Majority Meitei community lives in the densely populated valley: The state’s majority Meitei community, including the Meitei Pangal (Muslim), live in the smaller but densely populated valley, considered the power centre from a time when Meitei kings ruled the region
In March 2023, the flashpoint came with the HC order: There are 34 recognised Scheduled Tribes in the state, broadly under Naga and Kukichin or Kuki tribal groups, which also include Mizos Manipur had nine districts until 7 more were carved out in 2016. The tribal groups alleged that the new districts would encroach their ancestral land, but the government denied the charge
The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) had been demanding inclusion of Meiteis in the ST list since 2013, a move opposed by tribal groups
The Meities say the ST status is not for reservation in jobs and education, but it is more about protecting the ancestral lands, culture and identity of the Meitei people threatened by illegal immigrants from Myanmar and non-native settlers
Flashpoint came with the HC asking the state govt to act towards inclusion of Meitei in ST list: In March 2023, Manipur high court directed the state government to submit requisite documents for inclusion of Meitei in the ST list within four weeks. This triggered the current unrest
All Tribal Students Union of Manipur called a protest: On May 2, All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) opposed the demand of the Meities and called a protest in several hill districts on May 3, which triggered clashes & violence
The state had seen confrontations between Meitei and tribal groups in the past over various issues
The tribal communities have recently opposed a survey of reserved/protected forests, wetlands, and eviction of villages in the tribal areas by the state government