On Wednesday, massive violence erupted between tribal & non-tribal communities amid a protest about giving ST status to non-tribal in Manipur.
On May 3rd, heavy violence erupted between tribal and non-tribal communities over the High Court’s decision to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meiteis community in Manipur.
The Violence occurred in the middle of the protest when thousands of protesters participated in the protest against the High Court’s decision following which Police had to use tear gas to control the situation.
Reason behind Protest
Manipur state is divided into two communities, one is a tribal community such as Naga & Kuki, etc, that lives in hilly areas.
The second is a non-tribal community such as the Meiteis community which have 60% population in Manipur, that lives in a land area.
The Meiteis community is not legally allowed to live in the Hilly part of Imphal, Manipur.
The Metis community has always said that they face problems living in their land area due to immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, as a result of which they filed a request in the High Court for ST status to live in hilly areas.
On April 19th, High Court announced its decision in support of the Meiteis community, had asked the Manipur government to respond on the subject within four weeks.
Tribal people started protesting against the High Court’s decision.
Tribal people said that related to the decision that if non-tribal people get (ST) status, they will capture their land and resources.
One more argument also blew up during the protest the Meiteis community has a strong hand over the population and politics in Manipur.
Government Actions
Internet service suspended all over the state for five days except for broadband. Curfew extended over 8 districts amid violence. Force shifting people in a safe place.
Governor T. Ranjit Singh issued shoot-at-sight orders in the state because of destructive violence.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took stock of the situation and held a meeting with officials to defuse the situation at the earliest.
CM Biren Singh said, ‘we witnessed large-scale violence between two communities due to misunderstandings. The government is taking every step to control the situation’.