These are the remains of the day in Churachandpur, a district in Manipur
At the start of May, Manipur witnessed one if its worst ethnic clashes
Tensions between two communities - the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zomi – have been building for over three decades
But on May 3rd, it reached a boiling point
Homes were burnt, families were displaced, and the memories of that fateful night continue to haunt the region.
Some residents who fled Churachandpur, the epicenter of the violence, say they are afraid to return
Villages stand guarded, and displaced residents take shelter in relief camps, in an atmosphere of uncertainty.
What caused this conflict?
The Meiteis, the majority population, have historically lived in the Imphal valley, while the Kuki-Zomi people, predominantly Christians, occupy the hill districts.
For three decades, relations between the two communities have been edgy, with each accusing the other on several issues
Meitei leaders claim that the Kuki-Zomis have been allowing migrants from Myanmar illegally, leading to concerns about population growth
On the other hand, Kuki-Zomi organisations argue that they have faced discrimination and marginalisation, with a lack of representation in the State government.
The demands for separate administrations and increasing radicalisation have further deepened the divide.
In Churachandpur, the residents have crossed out ‘Manipur’ from State government offices and rechristened landmarks as ‘Lamka.’
This was what the area was called before it was named after Maharaja Churachand of Manipur.
The immediate trigger for the clashes in May was a Manipur High Court order granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Meiteis
Both sides have traded accusations, blaming each other for the destruction.
Neither district has declared how many are dead on either side of the conflict.
Hospital sources in both Churachandpur and Imphal say that there were close to a hundred bodies in the morgues of both districts.
As the State tries to pick up the pieces in the weeks since the clashes, the sense of fear still lingers.
Reporting: Abhinaya Lakshman
Voiceover: Abhinaya Sriram
Production: Reenu Cyriac
Videos: ANI/ Ritu Raj Konwar
