Beyond ethnic strife as militants fish in Manipur's troubled waters
Hindustan Times|January 26, 2024
For over eight months, Manipur has been aflame. When the violence first began on May 3, the fault-lines were distinctly ethnic in nature, pitting Manipur's most numerically dominant communities against each other. The Meiteis, largely clustered around the Imphal Valley versus the tribal Kukis, who live in the hill districts that surround the valley.
Prawesh Lama
Beyond ethnic strife as militants fish in Manipur's troubled waters

In all this time, the state administration has failed to quell the attacks and the arson that have left at least 200 people dead and 50,000 displaced. And yet, eight months into the clashes, Manipur's violence has grown beyond the ethnic. Increasingly, underground militant groups have regained support they had lost, rearmed themselves, launched attacks on security forces, and engaged in rampant extortion.

HT's conversations with multiple stakeholders in the state, from officers in the security establishment to people in both the Imphal valley and hill districts, show that far from heading towards a resolution, the situation is only becoming more challenging.

There's a near-total absence of any functional administration; the private militias have become de facto governments in areas under their control; gun running and drug trafficking, the two old malaises of the area, are back; and a refugee crisis set off by events across the border in Myanmar has only complicated matters.

It's no longer Kuki vs Meitei; it's now every man for himself.

Causes and profits

A senior police officer based in Manipur said that as the violence has gone on, militant groups have grown in strength, and in no small part because of growing extortion. "We have information that militants are extorting money, food items, even vehicles. They need a large supply of food, so they come into urban settlements, and ask shopkeepers to part with these items. There has also been a case when a militant group asked an automobile dealer to give them three Maruti cars. If the victims do not acquiesce, they are taken at gunpoint," the officer added, asking not to be named.

But while extortion is a resource-gathering exercise for some groups, it is the raison d'etre for others.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 26, 2024-Ausgabe von Hindustan Times.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 26, 2024-Ausgabe von Hindustan Times.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS HINDUSTAN TIMESAlle anzeigen
2.5mn Indians died from rising air pollution
Hindustan Times

2.5mn Indians died from rising air pollution

At least 2.5 million people in India have died on account of health issues arising from air pollution caused by so-called landscape fires (such as those caused by the burning of farm stubble) between 2000 and 2019, according to a study published by Lancet on Wednesday.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 28, 2024
Put A Period To The Silent Suffering
Hindustan Times

Put A Period To The Silent Suffering

As Neha Bhasin's struggle with premenstrual dysphoric disorder has sparked a discussion, let's dive deep into this medical disorder

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 28, 2024
Keerthy Suresh confirms relationship with Antony Thattil
Hindustan Times

Keerthy Suresh confirms relationship with Antony Thattil

Actor Keerthy Suresh, who is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Baby John co-starring Varun Dhawan, recently shared her first-ever picture with long-time boyfriend, businessman Antony Thattil, on Instagram.

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2024
After brother Chay, Akhil Akkineni is also engaged
Hindustan Times

After brother Chay, Akhil Akkineni is also engaged

Days ahead of actor Naga Chaitanya's wedding with actor Sobhita Dhulipala on December 4, his younger brother, actor Akhil Akkineni, 30, has also announced his engagement with artist Zulfi Ravdjee, 39.

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2024
RUPALI'S STEPDAUGHTER RELEASES 'FINAL' STATEMENT AFTER DEFAMATION SUIT
Hindustan Times

RUPALI'S STEPDAUGHTER RELEASES 'FINAL' STATEMENT AFTER DEFAMATION SUIT

Actor Rupali Ganguly's stepdaughter Esha Verma criticised the defamation case against her in a recent post, clarifying that she was only exercising her rights

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2024
FEUD INTENSIFIES AS DHANUSH SUES NAYANTHARA
Hindustan Times

FEUD INTENSIFIES AS DHANUSH SUES NAYANTHARA

After Nayanthara accused Dhanush of a 'personal grudge', the actor has filed a suit against her for using footage from his production without authorisation

time-read
1 min  |
November 28, 2024
Delivering an Olympics, a complicated process
Hindustan Times

Delivering an Olympics, a complicated process

Sebastian Coe, the only man in Olympic history to win back-to-back 1,500m gold medals, who heads World Athletics and is in the running to be the next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), brought up the Perth Test.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 28, 2024
Anticipated shuffle: Rohit and Gill for Padikkal, Jurel
Hindustan Times

Anticipated shuffle: Rohit and Gill for Padikkal, Jurel

The focus at this weekend's warm-up game will be on changes India could make for Adelaide's pink-ball Test match

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 28, 2024
Gvardiol errors emblematic of what is going wrong at Manchester City
Hindustan Times

Gvardiol errors emblematic of what is going wrong at Manchester City

Erling Haaland had scored on either side of half-time and between the Norwegian's goals, Ilkay Guendogan's sweetly struck left-footer took a deflection beating the impressive Timon Wellenreuther in Feyenoord's goal.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 28, 2024
Wrestler Bajrang to appeal against doping verdict
Hindustan Times

Wrestler Bajrang to appeal against doping verdict

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia said he will appeal against the four-year ban imposed by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for an anti-doping rule violation at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 28, 2024