A year following the eruption of ethnic violence, the majority of areas in Manipur's Imphal valley are gradually returning to a semblance of normalcy, despite sporadic incidents of violence and arson that continue to occur.
Just recently, a fire engulfed a residence belonging to a member of the Kuki community located behind the state secretariat in Imphal. Authorities have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.
The ethnic clashes in May 2023 claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands in Manipur, primarily between the Meitei majority and the minority Kuki communities.
India Today dispatched a team to Tengnoupal via Thoubal from Imphal to assess the situation one year after the outbreak of violence. In Tengnoupal, a hilly district predominantly inhabited by the Kuki community, central security forces have established a buffer zone extending along the district's border.
Previously, both communities coexisted in significant numbers in Pallel, a region within the district. However, following the violence, Pallel city has been divided into two distinct zones.
The buffer zone now restricts movement: Kukis residing in the hills cannot venture into the valley, and Meiteis residing in the valley cannot access the mountains. This measure aims to prevent armed individuals from entering each other's territories.
The administrative landscape in Tengnoupal also reflects the aftermath of the violence. The Manipur police force is now visibly divided along community lines.
A constable from the Kuki community noted that the police force also experienced division post-violence. While Meitei policemen are predominantly stationed in Imphal, Kuki officers have relocated to the hills.
Silence pervades the border villages adjacent to the valley in Tengnoupal, where children and elderly women have relocated to remote hill towns from their homes. Despite some normalization of the situation, residents avoid direct routes to Imphal Valley, preferring to traverse through mountainous districts to reach Mizoram for their supplies.
A local resident named Peter underscored that even today, members of the Kuki community feel apprehensive about visiting Meitei areas and endure hardships in the mountains to fulfill their basic needs.
During the peak of the violence, several Kuki villages in Tengnoupal were razed to the ground. The India Today team found one village near the valley devoid of any signs of life, with closed schools and locked houses.
Since the unrest, the Kuki community has been advocating for a separate administrative setup. In the hill areas, walls of houses prominently display the words "Separate Administration."
Haokip, the secretary of Kotonphai village, mentioned that one youth from every household remains in the village solely to safeguard their land, while women, children, and the elderly have relocated to hill towns like Churachandpur or Kangpokpi.
Haokip emphasized that the safety of the Kuki community is ensured primarily due to the presence of the Central government and central security forces. "Otherwise, armed Meitei insurgents would have annihilated the village," he added.
During the upheaval, youth who once pursued education took up arms, and communities that once cooperated in constructing homes resorted to burning each other's villages.
Alex, another resident of Kotonphai village, mentioned the necessity of constructing bunkers for the protection of villagers.
Retired Lieutenant Konsam Himalaya Singh, a veteran of the Kargil War, remarked that much of Manipur's conflict revolves around competing narratives and poses a threat to national security.
"When it comes to national security, the Central government should step in to ensure peace returns to Manipur," he asserted, lamenting the propagation of misinformation and false accusations amidst the turmoil.
