The Northeastern state of Manipur witnessed violent clashes during a Tribal Solidarity March organized by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on Wednesday. The march was in protest against the Manipur High Court’s directive to include the state’s Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. The Meiteis, the largest community in Manipur, had argued that they had lost their tribal identity after the merger of the princely state of Manipur with India in 1949.
Violence and Aftermath:
The violence first erupted in the Churachandpur district and later spread to other parts of the state. According to officials, several lives were lost, and properties were damaged during the clashes. In response, the Manipur government imposed a curfew and suspended mobile internet services for five days. The Centre is closely monitoring the situation, and paramilitary forces are being mobilized from nearby states. Retired IPS officer Kuldeep Singh has been appointed as the security advisor by the Manipur government.
As per Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Rawat, Defence PRO Guwahati, around 4,000 people have been given shelter in Army and Assam Rifles Company Operating Bases and state government premises. More than 7,500 civilians have been evacuated through rescue operations.
Opposition to High Court Order:
The demand for ST status arose from the need to “preserve” the Meitei community’s identity, language, culture, and ancestral land. The High Court directed the government to submit its recommendation after considering the case of the petitioners within four weeks. However, tribal groups are opposing the order, mainly for two reasons. First, they argue that the Meiteis have dominance in population and political representation. Second, the Meitei language is already included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and sections of the community are classified under Scheduled Castes (SC) or Other Backward Classes (OBC), giving them access to associated opportunities.
Army and Security Deployment:
The Indian Army, Assam Rifles, Central Armed Police Forces, and Rapid Action Forces have been deployed to control the situation. The Army and Assam Rifles have conducted flag marches in the affected areas. In the aftermath of the violence, the state government issued a shoot-at-sight order against rioters.
the violence in Manipur has led to the loss of life and property damage, prompting the deployment of the army and other security forces. The tribal solidarity march was a response to the Manipur High Court’s directive to include the Meitei community in the ST category, which has faced opposition from tribal groups citing dominance and linguistic and socio-economic privileges of the community. The situation remains tense, with the government taking measures to control the unrest.
Subheadings:
- Background of the Tribal Solidarity March and Meitei Community’s ST Category Demand
- Violence and Aftermath: Casualties, Evacuation, and Government Response
- Opposition to High Court Order and Tribal Groups’ Stand
- Army and Security Deployment to Control the Situation