News Analysis: Death toll in ethnic violence could have been much more higher than reported

The death toll in the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur between majority Meiteis and minority Kuki-Zo groups could have been much more higher than reported in the media if speculation and inputs from ground sources are taken to be true.

The ethnic clash, which began on May 3, 2023 has reached more than 50 days on Sunday, with escalated violent attacks in peripheral areas of the two communities.

In the absence of reliable data from the State administration or reports from the valley-based media houses, a rough estimate from different sources, particularly inputs from the grounds, may be taken into account for approximate estimation of death toll until the State administration comes out open.

Unlike the state government or the valley-based media outlets which allegedly subdued the number of casualties from the majority community in public domain, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), a civil society organization based in Churachandpur, usually publishes its community's updated data whenever casualty is met in all the strife-torn areas.

As per ITLF latest data report, as on 25th of June, 106 Kuki-Zo civilians including village guards have lost their lives since May 3, and about 300 individuals sustained injuries in the violence. Out of the confirmed death cases, majority of the casualties were murdered in the alleged 'ethnic cleansing' pogrom in Imphal area on May 3, 4 and 5. The number of missing persons, unidentified or unconfirmed deads lying in Imphal morque stands at 46.

Over 355 Churches and Quarters, 201 Villages and 5000 houses belonging to the minority tribal community were burnt down and 50000 people internally displaced at different places in the Hills including displaced persons in neighbouring Mizoram state.

The alleged state-sponsored genocide on Kuki-Zo tribal community in Manipur is marked by intermittent aggression and unabated attacks on Kuki-Zo villages, perpetrated mainly by radicalised Meitei groups such as ArambaiTenggol and Meitei Leepun. They are allegedly abetted by State security forces including Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), Manipur Rifles and Police Commandos, thereby torching tribal villages situated in the foothills bordering the Meitei Leikais, and subsequently burning down the tribal villages.

Frequent attacks of such incidents were reported in the peripheral areas of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Chandel/Kakching districts. The tribal village guards or defense volunteers with their limited licensed guns or hand-made weapons have to defend their villages from the onrushing radicalised Meitei attackers.

In defense of their lands and people, the village guards or volunteers claimed to have inflicted many casualties on the aggressors thereby eliminating hundreds of radicalised Meitei armed cadres. The highest of casualties in the violence till date has been reported in Khamenlok area under Saikul Sub-Division, Kangpokpi disrict. Inputs from the ground claimed that around 100 - 150 radicalized Meiteis' armed militias were said to have been neutralized by the Village volunteers within the 3-day attacks on the said tribal villages by radicalized armed Meiteis.

As per a report in the Manipur Express, a vernacular newspaper based in Lamka (Churachandpur), about 200 Meitei radicalised armed cadres lost their lives during the whole incident in Khamenlok Kuki areas and many others sustained injuries. However, Imphal-based media outlets have reported only 9 persons death.

Reportedly, as the village volunteers could not withstand a much larger number of reinforcement from the state security forces, all the villages in that area had been subsequently burnt down. It was alleged that even the Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, and other high ranking officials and public representatives were co-ordinatedly present in the nearby locality, during the said violent occurred.

In unabated attacks on tribal villages in Sugnu-Serou area, under Chandel/Kakching district in the last week of May, the tribal volunteers claimed to have eliminated about 80+ armed Meitei cadres. In a retaliatory strike, the tribal volunteers also burnt down the residence of Sugnu Kendra MLA, K. Ranjit Singh. Sources said many dead bodies remained unclaimed for several days in Sugnu-Serou area too. Five MLAs from majority community were also reportedly stationed in Sugnu area on the day when almost all the tribal villages were finally burnt down there.

The radicalised armed Meitei groups' intermittent attacks on Twichin and Phaimol Kuki-Zo areas, in Kangpokpi district, were also among the violent incidents which could be mentioned. Sources said village volunteers could eliminate as many as 20-30 armed Meitei militants even though they could not withstand the aggressors- drawn out from the large armed mob of Meiteis, who finally burnt down their villages.

In attacking Kuki-Zo villages in Kangvai-Gothol or Phouchakhai area of Churchandpur, it was also said that about 20-30 Meitei armed militias have lost their lives.

In Kangchup-Chingkhong area under Kangpokpi district, it was claimed that the village defense volunteers valiantly fight back the intermittent attacks on their villages by the Meiteis' armed cadres. In the course of incidents few weeks back, the tribal village guards could neutralise atleast 20-40 radicalised Meiteis' armed individuals. It is to be noted here that, the inhumane action of mother-son duo were burnt alive inside Ambulance by the Meitei mobs during the violent incidents in Kangchup area.

There are also many other violent incidents reported in several other places bordering the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups, and fewer number of casualties reported elsewhere. In Phaileng area of Kangpokpi district too, unconfirmed numberof armed attackers were reportedly eliminated by the tribal village defenders.Recent violent attacks are reported in Leimakhong areas, Haraothel-Leilon areas, Khoken-Saheibung areas and many other peripheral areas with reports of precious of lives being lost.

To sum up this analysis on the number of casualties in the ensuing ethnic violence, it is highly believed that the death toll could be much higher compare to the news reports. The number of death toll could be estimated to be above 400 persons (from both the communities) and almost a thousand injured.