The Indian boxing bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics called on the New Delhi government to resolve the situation. For two days there has been widespread violence between the Meitei, a Hindu majority, and the Kuki, a Christian tribal group. So far there are 13 dead and 9,000 displaced, but they cut the Internet connection and the figures could be higher.
Imphal () – “I am deeply shocked by the situation in Manipur. Since last night, the situation has worsened. I ask the central government to take action and maintain peace and security in the State. It is regrettable that some people have lost family members to because of the violence. The situation must be stabilized as soon as possible.” This is how Indian boxer Mary Kom expressed herself in a call for sectarian violence that broke out on May 3 in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, her place of origin.
For the past two days, the Meitei majority, of mainly Hindu denomination, has been facing the Kuki tribal groups, which are mainly Christians.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangalore, Monsignor Peter Machado, also commented on the events: “We note with deep concern the escalation of attacks and persecutions against Christians in the peaceful state of Manipur, where the Christian population represents 41%. We have received reports that three churches built in 1974 and some houses were burned down and the population was forced to flee to safer places,” the statement continued. “It is distressing to hear that despite the presence of a sizeable Christian population in Manipur, the community feels insecure. Let us remember that the world famous boxer Mary Kom also hails from this state.”
Born into a humble Baptist family of tenant farmers, she is considered a celebrity for having won a large number of medals internationally in her 20-year career as an amateur boxer, including a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the category. flyweight (51 kg). But the boxer was also a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, and in 2014 actress Priyanka Chopra played her in an autobiographical film in Hindi. After winning her sixth world title in 2018, the Manipur Government awarded her the title of “meethoileima” (meaning “queen”, “outstanding woman”) and the following year a section of road was dedicated to her in the district where she currently resides. In 2020 she received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award.
Being part of the indigenous Kom group, in recent days he could not help but post a request on Twitter addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, sharing photos of the violence and writing: “My Manipur state is burning, please help.”
The internet is down and it is very difficult to receive information at the moment, but according to local sources, at least 13 people have died and more than 9,000 have been displaced. So far, 6,000 soldiers from the army and the Assam Rifles have attended, a paramilitary group controlled by the central government that normally patrols the Indian border with Myanmar, from where thousands of Burmese refugees have been fleeing for two years, driven by the civil conflict. . Shops, houses, churches and temples were set on fire in Imphal (the capital), Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts. The houses of many policemen were also attacked.
To deal with the situation, the local government imposed a curfew and ordered “shoot on sight” in cases where “all forms of persuasion, warning, reasonable force and so on have been exhausted.” According to what some residents declared to the local press, in some areas of the state anarchy reigns: the state machinery has collapsed and violent gangs roam the streets freely. “On Thursday afternoon I fled my home in eastern Imphal with four elderly relatives,” said Golan Naulak, a member of the Scheduled Tribes, the castes and tribes recognized by the Indian government. “We lost our house, car, documents and all our belongings. We are currently taking refuge in the city’s police complex.” Neighboring states, meanwhile, have opened information hotlines and organized evacuation flights.
The origin of the violence dates back to the events of recent months, when the Meitei – to whom more than 50% of the population belongs and who live predominantly in the lowlands – requested to be included in the Scheduled Tribes, the groups disadvantaged people who are granted certain benefits under Indian law in terms of public employment quotas, political representation and land rights. The Meitei claim that they are in difficulties due to massive migration flows from Bangladesh and Myanmar, but under current law they cannot move to the mountainous areas inhabited by the Kuki and other tribal groups. Tribal communities fear that by granting them Scheduled Tribes status, the Meitei could take over their land. After the Manipur High Court urged the local government to accept the Hindus’ petition on April 19, tribal groups joined a demonstration promoted by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur in the Torbung area of Manipur district. Churachandpur, after which the fighting started.
(Nirmala Carvalho contributed)
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