Wounds and Mending the Scars ~ Dr George T Haokip

IN THE state of Manipur, a recent abominable incident has sent shockwaves across the nation as Meitei mobs unleashed a savage attack on B Phainom village in Kangpokpi district. The consequences were tragic, with villagers losing their lives, and two innocent Kuki Zo women, a mother, and her 21-year-old daughter, were paraded naked in public and later mass rape, subjected to public humiliation.

The horrifying incident, concealed for a month, came to light on July 19, 2023, exposing the depravity of the perpetrators. The use and exploitation of women's bodies for racial tactics and revenge by the Meitei's Meira Paibis (women's group) is both despicable and appalling.

In a remarkably shocking video from May 2023, Meira Paibis were witnessed encouraging their sons to perpetrate appalling acts of rape against vulnerable Kuki Zo women in Imphal. Moreover, these Meitei women employed their bodies to hinder law enforcement and engaged in a high drama resignation attempt with Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. These actions are utterly unacceptable and cannot be defended or supported in any manner.

There are severe human rights violations against Kuki Zo and intentional aggression against innocent Kukis persist with backing from state security forces. The inaction of the Narendra Modi-led government in addressing the Manipur crisis has sparked widespread outrage and alarm, reaching a breaking point. Manipur violence has now reached Assam with Mr Emmanuel Hmar from Hmarkhawlen in Lakhipur subdivision of Cachar, who was traveling to Kerala on July 15, was intercepted by Armabai Tengol in Andhra Pradesh and killed while he was chained.

Pic via Twitter.

A striking discrepancy is also evident in the handling of cases involving violence against vulnerable individuals. While the police arrested the perpetrator responsible for killing a mentally challenged Naga woman within 24 hours of ultimatum issued by the United Naga Council, justice is yet to be served for a similarly mentally challenged Kuki Zo woman killed in Imphal. Such bias in law enforcement by N Biren Singh govt raises serious questions about the continuous partisan and justice system's integrity.

Notwithstanding the assertions of a functional Manipur BJP government, no apprehensions have been executed concerning these appalling offenses carried out by the majority Meiteis in Imphal and periphery.

At the core of Manipur's violence lies the overt favoritism towards the Meitei community by the government. With a Meitei Chief Minister and 40 MLAs from the same community, the administration is heavily skewed towards prioritizing Meitei interests.

The ongoing ethnic clash in Manipur as proven by evidence is clearly a preplanned war orchestrated by the Meiteis, and the Kuki Zo community has presented compelling evidence supporting this claim linking Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Manipur's Rajya Sabha MP, Sanajaoba, to a covert group known as the Arambai Tengol- a radical group, who some said are part of RSS.

However, the present crisis is not a conflict between Christians and Hindus; calling it such is entirely incorrect. In fact, it is a crisis between the Meitei (sometimes called Meetei) and Kuki-Zo ethnic groups, and if religion must be mentioned, it pertains to Christians and Sanamahi practitioners. Sanamahi is the indigenous Meitei religion, a vital part of Meitei culture and heritage.  When the majority of Meitei consume cow beef, they cannot be called Hindus.

The Meiteis initiated Hate Kuki movement as process of revitalizing Sanamahi. The resurgence of Sanamahi religion served as a mechanism to rouse and consolidate the Meitei populace, subsequently indoctrinating them with communal animosity towards Kuki Zo.

Currently, there is only one viable solution to permanently end the discord between the two warring communities – separate administration of some kind. It has become evident that these two communities cannot coexist under a single administration, not in the past, more so in the future. Granting autonomy to the Kuki-Zo community is entirely justifiable.

When Puducherry and Lakshadweep, with areas of 479 and 32 square kilometers respectively, designated as union territories, and Goa, with 3,702 square kilometers, granted statehood, why Kuki Zo community cannot have a separate administration in Manipur, whose geographical area of 22,327 square kilometers.

The wound's depth necessitates division, compelling separate administration for the Kuki Zo. It tests Indian leadership's ability to heal scars or face failure.

(The writer is social activist and can be reached at kinepna@gmail.com)

*The views expressed are personal. 

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