The longstanding insurgency has afflicted the state of Manipur in India’s north-eastern region. Manipur’s sociohistorical fabric is intricately woven with the Kuki and Meitei communities, encompassing Manipur, Myanmar, and its neighbouring regions. In contrast to the Meiteis, who adhere predominantly to Hinduism, the Kukis incline toward Christianity, their presence extending across the north-eastern expanse of India with ancestral connections to Myanmar.
In this region, separatist activity emerged as early as 1954. The Manipur Insurgency, which began in 1964, claimed the lives of 2,253 civilians between 1992 and 2020. Tensions escalated when the Kukis protested vehemently against the Meiteis’ quest for official tribal recognition. The Kukis argue that granting this status to the Meiteis would only serve to magnify their already substantial influence over government and society, allowing them to secure land and establish themselves in regions traditionally inhabited by the Kuki population.
Currently, 34 factions, including peaceful and violent entities, are ardently pursuing independence from India. Some of these organizations formed a coalition in 1999, uniting under the banner of the Manipur People’s Liberation Front. On Manipurian soil, the Indian military, paramilitary, and law enforcement agencies are accused of committing atrocities, including murder and torture. These alleged violations by Indian security forces are said to have fanned the embers of resistance among insurgent groups in the region. In accordance with the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958, the Indian government designated Manipur as a disquieting “disturbed area” in 1980, further complicating the situation.
The ‘Armed Forces Special Powers Act,’ characterized by the United Nations as a law dating back to the colonial era, has been declared in contravention of contemporary international human rights standards. The United Nations has urged the Indian government to repeal this act, arguing that it is incompatible with Indian democracy. Multiple UN treaty bodies have also deemed it illegal under international law.
Since the onset of civil disturbance on 3 May 2023, Manipur has been ravaged by widespread destruction in just three months. The dismal total includes over 50,000 displaced citizens and 160 tragic deaths. The use of stolen weapons from both law enforcement and state arsenals as a means of protecting cultural identity adds a disquieting dimension to this unrest.
The Indian security forces have been implicated in multiple detainee fatalities, which they attribute to “armed confrontations.” In Indian police precincts, suspects are frequently subjected to physical assault or severe interrogation techniques, commonly known as the “third degree,” in order to extract information or confessions. In Manipur, law enforcement personnel and armed units, including counterinsurgency commandos, have been accused of committing heinous acts of torture.
Fifteen diverse ethnic community groups from conflict-ridden Manipur sent a formal appeal to the United Nations, pleading for intervention in light of grave human rights violations and escalating regional humanitarian crises. In their official communication, these organizations highlighted the severe human rights violations and humanitarian crises resulting from the intense ethnic conflicts between the Chin-Kuki and Meitei communities.
Multiple international NGOs have expressed concern for this situation. Amnesty International issued a statement that it is “alarmed by the continued and unabated violence between ethnic groups in the North-Eastern Indian state of Manipur and the inability of Indian authorities to protect human rights in the region.” In India’s north-eastern state of Manipur, human rights violations and atrocities have allegedly included sexual violence, extrajudicial murders, home destruction, forced displacement, torture, and ill-treatment, according to UN experts. According to UN experts, recent events in Manipur are yet another tragic example of the progressively deteriorating situation for religious and ethnic minorities in India. Similarly, Human Rights Watch has meticulously documented instances of arbitrary executions, torture, and sexual assault committed by Indian security forces in this region.
Disappointing about this situation is the apparent absence of mutual empathy among communities with the same regional history, especially regarding the treatment of women. During the most difficult phase of a conflict, women and children endure the brunt of exploitation and maltreatment. Their already heightened vulnerability due to entrenched chauvinism is exacerbated by the administration’s failures, making their plight even more dire.
Despite assurances from civilian authorities that they would not tolerate human rights violations, law enforcement, the military, and paramilitary groups have repeatedly violated human rights without repercussions. As part of their efforts to combat militant organizations, their actions have included extrajudicial murders, torture, and other unlawful means.
It is imperative that the Indian government always protect the fundamental liberties of its citizens. To accomplish this objective, it is necessary to establish legal mechanisms to supervise and prevent security force violations. This includes adhering to international human rights standards applicable to law enforcement and investigative activities by security forces, as well as hearing opinions of the local activists.
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