Fight with Karbis, Nagas, Meiteis The common denominator
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The record does not lie and in over 90 percent of all the ethnic clashes in North East region, particularly in Manipur, the central character has always been the Kuki community. This is not something that has been plucked out off the blue or something cooked up by the fertile imagination of The Sangai Express but the past, a past that does not lie. Even as Manipur is fast approaching the three year mark of the clash that erupted in all its ugliness on May 3, 2023, certain elements from amongst the Kukis are at it again, this time around Litan in Ukhrul district. Again this is not the first time that Ukhrul is in the news for all the wrong reasons in recent days, and one just has to go back to the days of arson and tension in the early part of February this year. Fast forward by a few days and just after 30 days or so of the Litan conflagration, the murderous, roguish elements are back in action again. Manipur woke up to the disturbing news of yet another round of confrontation at Thoyee (Thawai) Hills, in Ukhrul district bordering Kangpokpi district which ended in exchange of gunfire after some armed Kuki elements were intercepted accompanying poppy farmers. The stand off resulted in bullets being fired indiscriminately on Tangkhul farmers who were tending to their fields and the gunfight that followed is now known to all. Fortunately there has been no report of anyone getting injured in the gun battle, but it did not end there for soon later about 20 Tangkhul people who were on their way to Imphal from Ukhrul were waylaid at Shangkai village and held captive. Better sense prevailed in that the captives were freed safe and sound early on March 12, that is after nearly 24 hours and while it is not known where the captives were taken to, it can be certain for sure that the nearly 24 hours of captivity must have been gruelling for the Tangkhul folks. Young girls were among those held captive by the Kuki militants. The safe release of the captives is positive, no doubt, but the nagging feeling that the 20 persons were ‘allowed’ to be abducted at gunpoint continues to hang heavy in the air. Shangkai village is located very near Litan and as per reports that have come in, the areas around Litan continue to be under the watch and glare of the security personnel, particularly the Army. Difficult to believe that a Winger operating on the Imphal-Ukhrul route could be so comfortably stopped, the identities of the occupants confirmed and whisked away. Where were the security personnel doing at this point of time ? This is where the abduction story comes to the understanding of ‘being allowed’ to be held up by gun wielding elements and then whisked away. Something is certainly not right and Delhi better take note of the growing voices of discontent against the conduct of the Central security forces.
Year 2023 to 2026 and this is where a look back at the distant and not so distant past should tell its own significant story. Manipur has not still not forgotten the Naga Kuki clash that started in 1992 and went on till 1997. Five years and chroniclers of the past have gone back earlier to recount the ordeals of the past, with many pointing fingers at the unchecked, illegal infiltration from across the border down the decades. Looking back and those who were in the profession of disseminating information to the people back then, would recall how infiltration and the propensity to spread out and establish new settlements with just two or three houses, was one of the chief factors behind the Naga-Kuki clash from 1992 to 1997. The trend of setting up new establishments continues to this day and it was with a reason why the Government of Manipur had notified that villages having less than a specified number of houses would not be counted as a village and not entitled to any Government schemes. One can also still recall the attempt made to christen a new locality on the eastern side at Mantripukhri as Vaiphei Veng. This happened just a few years back, before Manipur went up in flames on May 3, 2023. Wherever the Kukis settle, ‘war’ with the neighbours or other communities seem to underline their character and Chura-chandpur made it to the news for all the wrong reasons during the Kuki-Paite clash from 1997 to 1998, the clash with the Kuki-Dimasa clash, Kuki-Karbi clash in Assam, not to speak of the recent clash with the Angamis in Nagaland.
Year 2023 to 2026 and this is where a look back at the distant and not so distant past should tell its own significant story. Manipur has not still not forgotten the Naga Kuki clash that started in 1992 and went on till 1997. Five years and chroniclers of the past have gone back earlier to recount the ordeals of the past, with many pointing fingers at the unchecked, illegal infiltration from across the border down the decades. Looking back and those who were in the profession of disseminating information to the people back then, would recall how infiltration and the propensity to spread out and establish new settlements with just two or three houses, was one of the chief factors behind the Naga-Kuki clash from 1992 to 1997. The trend of setting up new establishments continues to this day and it was with a reason why the Government of Manipur had notified that villages having less than a specified number of houses would not be counted as a village and not entitled to any Government schemes. One can also still recall the attempt made to christen a new locality on the eastern side at Mantripukhri as Vaiphei Veng. This happened just a few years back, before Manipur went up in flames on May 3, 2023. Wherever the Kukis settle, ‘war’ with the neighbours or other communities seem to underline their character and Chura-chandpur made it to the news for all the wrong reasons during the Kuki-Paite clash from 1997 to 1998, the clash with the Kuki-Dimasa clash, Kuki-Karbi clash in Assam, not to speak of the recent clash with the Angamis in Nagaland.