Twenty-four people were detained by the Manipur police on Saturday after they allegedly tried to forcibly occupy a flattened residential area in the Kuki-dominated hill district of Churachandpur.
A police statement said the 24 people who were detained and later released on personal recognisance (PR) bonds had brought with them daily items to sell, which indicated that they wanted to convert the former residential area into a crowded marketplace.
The police further said that the area had been completely vacant as of now and that no houses were standing there. It also said that a static police team was stationed at the area to prevent any untoward incident and that the police would secure the area from illegal activities and encroachment as per Supreme Court guidelines.
This is the latest development in the conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur which has been going on since May 3, 2023. The conflict has resulted in the massive destruction of properties in both the state capital Imphal Valley and hill areas, according to the police.
According to the police, armed groups allegedly continued to loot and destroy properties even after the security forces had taken control of sensitive areas. The ethnic violence in the state has left the entire area tense and the situation is still not under control.
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At present, the Meiteis are living in the valley, while the Kuki-Zo tribes are in the hills – with both not going to areas where each community is dominant. The Supreme Court on May 24 had said that it cannot go by sentiments and has to act as per law while scrapping a petition seeking contempt action against the Manipur Chief Secretary for allegedly not protecting the properties of internally displaced people.
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