Amitha Reji George, Pune
On August 1 the BJP government made the first breakthrough in Manipur violence. With the aim of restoring harmony in Jibram district of Manipur, Meitei and Kuki groups have signed a peace agreement.The agreement marks a crucial step towards peace in the region and preventing incidents of arson and gunfire in the Jiribam district.
The peace meeting between the Meitei and Hmar (a community that is a part of the Kuki-Chin-Zo group) communities was conducted on August 1, in Manipur’s Jiribam district by a number of local authorities and security forces. Both communities decided to work towards reviving normalcy and preventing gunshot and arson occurrences in the district during the “peace meet.”
Both parties agreed to ensure “ full cooperation to all security forces” in Jibram guaranteeing “controlled and coordinated movements”, and meet again on August 15. Officials from the Assam Rifles, police CRPF, and district administration were present at the meeting. Representatives of other Kuki-Zo tribes, like the Thadou, Mino and Paite communities also attended the meeting.
Jibram district was in a major crisis in June, between the Kuki-Zo group, based in the hills and comprising the Hmar community, and the Meitei population from the valley.
After the bodies of a Kuki-Zo and Meitei men, were found in Jiribam within weeks of each other, the area saw several gunshots, one of which killed a CRPF constable. The district had been relatively peaceful before June.
Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities are a minority in Jiribam. Muslims and Bengali Hindus are dominant there. The Hmar community is one of the most prominent Kuki-Zo groups in Jiribam. Since the disturbances, peace negotiations with both groups have been facilitated by authorities and security personnel. Meetings have been moved to the Cachar district in nearby Assam to guarantee these conversations’ security
The unrest in Manipur, which is the conflict between the Meitie and Kuki communities in the northeastern state, was a major and tragic event that stirred strong emotions throughout the nation. The violence broke out in May 2023 and expanded rapidly leaving a trail of damage in its wake, many dead, and massive displacement of people.