The Kuki and Maitei communities are going to hold talks for the first time on October 15 amid the ongoing caste violence in Manipur for the past one year.
Leaders and legislators from both communities will attend a meeting organized by the Home Ministry in New Delhi to find a peaceful solution to the violence.
Maitei community leaders Thongam Bishwajit, Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata, Thaunaojam Basantkumar, Khongbantabam Ibomcha, Dr. Sapam Ranjan, Thokchom Radhe-Shyam and Tongbram Robindro will attend the meeting.
The leaders of the Kuki community will be Letpao Haokip, Paolinlal Haokip, Haoholet Kipjen. In this discussion Naga MLAs and Ministers Awangbo Nyumai, L. Look and Ram Muivah will also be present.
The caste-based violence in Manipur started on 3 May 2023. 16 months have passed since then. Meanwhile, 226 people have died. While more than 1100 people have been injured. More than 65 thousand people have left their homes.
In this violence that has been going on for 16 months, houses, shops, vehicles have been burnt to ashes in many districts.
Kuki-Maitei signed a peace treaty in Jiribam in August Before the meeting in Delhi, Kuki and Maitei signed a peace accord in Jiribam, Manipur in August. Under the agreement, both sides will cooperate with security forces to prevent incidents of arson and firing in Jiribam and work to normalize the situation.
In fact, a meeting between the Kuki and the Humar community (Maitei) was held on August 1 at the CRPF Group Center in Jiribam. The meeting was organized by CRPF, Assam Rifles and District Commissioner. Both parties signed an agreement in this meeting.
Amid the violence, incidents of rape have increased in the state Incidents of rape have increased in the state during the Manipur violence. There are many gangs that go underground after extorting money. Now to deal with this Manipur Police has formed a special cell 'Anti Extortion Cell'.
On 13th October, Intelligence IGP. Kabib said – Illegal tax is collected from the trucks passing through the National Highway leaving the state. Businessmen, educational institutes and common people are being harassed in the name of charity. They are being extorted. Its impact is also being seen on economic activities.
He said that the police is taking strict action against those involved in extortion. Many underground gangs and gang abductions are involved in cases of kidnapping, grenade attacks and phone threats. In response to these activities, the police has formed an anti-extortion cell headed by ADGP (Law and Order). It has IGP members from all zones.
Know in 4 points – What is the reason for Manipur violence… The population of Manipur is about 38 lakhs. There are three main communities here – Maitai, Naga and Kuki. Maitai are mostly Hindus. The Nga-Kuki follow Christianity. falls under ST category. Their population is about 50%. The Maitai community dominates the Imphal Valley, which covers about 10% of the state. Naga-Kuki constitute about 34 percent of the population. These people live in almost 90% of the state.
How the controversy started: The Maitai community is demanding that they too be given tribal status. The community filed a petition in the Manipur High Court for this. The community's contention was that Manipur had merged with India in 1949. Before that they got only tribal status. After this, the High Court recommended to the state government that the Maitai should be included in the Scheduled Tribe (ST).
What is Maitai's argument: The Maitai tribe believes that years ago their kings called the Kukis from Myanmar to fight in the war. After that he became a permanent resident. These people cut forests for employment and started opium cultivation. Due to which Manipur has become a triangle of drug smuggling. All this is happening openly. He formed an armed group to fight the Naga people.
Why against Naga-Kuki: The other two castes are against giving reservation to Maitai community. They say 40 of the state's 60 assembly seats are already in the Maitai-dominated Imphal Valley. In such a situation, if Maitai gets reservation in ST category, their rights will be divided.
What are political equations: Out of 60 MLAs in Manipur, 40 MLAs belong to Maitai and 20 MLAs belong to Naga-Kuki tribe. So far, only two of the 12 CMs have come from the tribe.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
