IMPHAL, India: The harrowing scenes of charred walls, collapsed tin roofs, and shattered windows at the Kuki community church are haunting testaments to the vicious ethnic violence that has engulfed India’s troubled Manipur state.
For months now, armed clashes between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the predominantly Christian Kuki have resulted in a death toll of at least 120.
The misery of the Kuki church in Imphal is just one tragic example, with a staggering count of over 220 churches and 17 Hindu temples having fallen prey to the relentless waves of vigilante violence, as reported by India Today news magazine.
Within this heart-wrenching backdrop, Baptist priest Zuan Kamang Damai led a solemn service on a Sunday with a congregation merely a third of its usual size, about 800, as numerous Kuki worshippers had fled in fear for their lives. Their displacement was undeniable, leaving the priest to reassure them of hope, unity, and the desire to return home and rebuild their lives.
Reverend Damai himself belongs to the Naga community, a major tribal group in the region that has, for the most part, been spared from the cycle of revenge attacks. Despite the conflicts, he emphasizes the necessity to respect and coexist peacefully, regardless of religious affiliations, be it Christian, Hindu, Muslim, or any other.
The root cause of the ongoing conflict is a complex interplay of issues concerning land, rights, and power dynamics. The Kuki community resists Meitei’s demands for reserved public job quotas and college admissions, fearing that such affirmative action might pave the way for Meitei groups to acquire land in territories presently reserved for tribal communities.
In response to the escalating violence, India’s Interior Minister, Amit Shah, has pledged an in-depth and impartial investigation, standing in solidarity with the people of Manipur. However, the Human Rights Watch group has expressed concerns over state authorities, particularly the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party led by Shah, for implementing policies that fuel divisive agendas, promoting Hindu majoritarianism.
Religious divisions have undoubtedly exacerbated the turmoil. While the majority of Meitei people adhere to Hinduism, there exists a minority of Christians within their ranks who have also suffered attacks. One Meitei Christian identified only as B, recounted the horror of watching his church reduced to ashes by a rampaging mob. The widespread targeting of churches across various communities indicates the presence of religious motives behind the violence, adding further complexity to the crisis.
Remarkably, certain observations reveal a selective pattern in the attacks, with Kuki community churches bearing the brunt while those of the Naga people remain untouched. This has raised questions about the broader nature of the conflict, transcending land rights and government jobs. Eva, a Christian with ties to both Meitei and Naga communities, pointed out the undeniable evidence of religious undertones driving the hostilities, as the Meitei churches were vandalized and burned, even though the clashes are portrayed primarily as a Kuki and Meitei issue.
Manipur’s strife represents a deeply entrenched and multi-faceted conflict driven by ethnic tensions, land disputes, and religious divisions.
