The excuse for attack on the Christian places were that there were Kuki hiding , which was not true). Tens of churches belonging to Meitei Christians were also burnt in several places. Claims were made that the churches were attacked as part of revenge for the destruction of a Meitei place of worship in some parts of the State. However, the number of attacks on churches that had nothing to do with the conflict indicates the strong and active involvement of some fanatical groups -An Anonympus Report from Manipur..
An Account On The Violence And Unrest In Manipur 2023
Since 03 May 2023, unprecedented violence and unrest has taken the State of Manipur like a
storm. The Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Imphal, Manipur is pained, saddened and
most of all concerned at the situation that has unfolded. Precious lives have been lost, houses
burned or destroyed, belongings vandalized and looted, places of worship desecrated and set
ablaze. Thousands have been displaced and rendered homeless and are languishing in different
shelters in military barracks and relief camps. Many have left the capital Imphal and the State
to safer places. Summarily, there is fear, uncertainty and a general sense of hopelessness and
desperation.
Circumstances
Several issues have been waiting unresolved for a long time, gradually building up emotions
and general angst.
• The demand of the Meitei community to be listed as a Schedule Tribe (ST) and
vehement opposition of the Tribals to this demand
o The endorsement and support expressed by many the Meitei political leaders
and MLAs
o The opposition spearheaded by the tribal student organizations and CSOs.
o The recommendation of the High Court of Manipur to the State government to
recommend the demand of the Meitei community to the Central Government
and subsequent dissent and condemnation by various tribal groups
• The initiation of the State Government to survey the Reserved Forests, Protected
Forests and Conserved Forests
o objection of the tribals to such a survey on the grounds that the designation of
such categories of forests do not have the consent of the HAC (Hill Area
Committee).
o Eviction and displacement of villages in the Forest lands (most of which are
Kuki inhabited villages)
• Recent alleged derogatory preaching of Pastor Ramananda and subsequent pledging of
a section of Meitei community to protect their indigenous culture and religion.
All these issues in some way are interconnected and mixed, resulting in playing into the
sentiments of the people.
The final point of eruption seem to be:
• The destruction of the Open Gymn and the venue of the CM’s visit to Churachandpur,
angered by the eviction of villages,
• The Tribal Solidarity Rally of May 03,2023 which turned violent mainly in
churachandpur area.
With the news and rumors of violent clashes in Churachandpur area spreading like wildfire,
the Meiteis in Imphal began their hunt for persons of Kuki origin or lineage. The clashes are
between the Meitei community and the Kuki-chin-mizo community of people.
Destruction to Catholic Church and Institutions.
Extensive destruction to private homes and property have been inflicted on both sides.
Vandalism and looting of properties in broad daylight is the uneasy order of the day in many
pockets. Along with private properties many churches have been the target of attack in many
parts of the valley region. Unconfirmed numbers of the destroyed (mostly burnt) churches are
more than 40 churches.
The Catholic Church has suffered the fury of the mob in at least 5 places:
1. St. Paul’s Parish and Pastoral Training Centre (PTC):
St. Paul’s Parish located in Sangaiprou, Imphal is a parish which has its members from all
ethnic communities of Manipur such Meiteis, Kabui, Tangkhul, Paite, etc. In the same campus
is the Pastoral Training Centre where lay catechists have been receiving training for many
years.
On 3
rd May, 2023, around 8.30 pm a mob came by and began smashing and destroying the
church and the properties therein. Windowpanes, doors, Interior of the church, statues, crucifix,
sound system, musical instruments, etc. and whatever was in the church were smashed and the
altar set on fire. They also came inside PTC, which housed altogether 46 inmates (4 Priests, 37
trainees, one animator, one hostel warden, 3 domestic staff) and sought the identity of the
inmates. After identifying the inmates and verifying their identity, they set the Motor cycle on
fire and left the place. The fire in the church was brought under control somehow.
The group returned after awhile, the administration reasoned with them, identifying themselves
as Director and Assistant Director with ID proof again. They left a second time.
They returned the third time with few women who intervened not to do further harm to the
institution. At their insistence they checked every room of the house. And having satisfied
themselves that there are no Kuki individuals in the house, they left.
The next day, 4
th May 2023, around 10.00 A.M. a mob barged in again. The inmates were
asked to identify themselves. After verification for multiple time, they left, finding no persons
they apparently were looking for.
At around 2.00 pm in the afternoon, they walked into the church, collected the cooking gas
cylinders from the kitchen of the PTC, and after piling up all the pews and valuables they
smashed, looted, and burnt both the Church and the PTC building.
All this time no security cover was provided. Even the police team who were there earlier
before the mob arrived were nowhere to be seen. All SOS calls to Emergency Nos. 100 and
112 without any response. Even after the first instance of attack, there was no security
deployment leaving it vulnerable for further attacks and eventual destruction.
In the arson attack:
1. one Bolero Vehicle bearing Regd. No. MN06L4909, one Maruti Alto (Lxi) car Regd.
No. TR05A 0653, 3 motorbikes were set ablaze on that day.
2. All the offices of the Pastoral Training Centre and St. Paul’s Parish, were burnt along
with all the office related documents: Registered Society Files, Account Statements,
parochial registers, land related documents, Bank details, cash amount Rs. 500,000 in
the safe, individual personal cash and valuables, etc.
3. All personal belongings, documents of the inmates relating to education, identity, etc.
4. A library with precious collection of books, office computers, electronic devices, class
room teaching aids, projectors, T.V., etc.
5. All furniture, home items, dormitory facility, Study Hall and Classroom facility, Church
Pews, etc.
6. Domestic livestock: over 250 ducks, over 80 chicken, two fish ponds with about 5000
fish (which were fished by the intruders), 5 piglets, etc. estimated loss of about 2.5 lakh
Material loss can be valued but the loss of documents and files, are invaluable. As far as
material loss estimate is concerned, it will be in the following terms:
1. St. Paul’s Parish Church with all that is in it: Building structure, statues, pews, altar,
sound system, musical instruments, books, etc. is estimated at not less than 1.8 crores
2. Pastoral Training Centre: Massive building and all properties in it. Estimated loss 5.5
crore
3. Boys Hostel (partially burnt) & Kitchen: estimated Loss 35 lakh
4. Vehicles: 1 Mahindra Bolero, 1 Maruti Alto (Lxi), three motorbikes: estimated to be 15
Lakh
5. Domestic livestock: estimated loss of about 2.5 lakh
2. Holy Redeemer Parish, Canchipur
Holy Redeemer Parish in Canchipur was attacked by the mob on 03 May 2023 setting
the church with all its furniture and appliances inside the church with an estimated value
of 1.3 crores. The mob also set ablaze the boys hostel for needy students, the worth of
which is estimated to be about 50 Lakh. The garage of the Parish and School also was
destroyed.
The presbytery of the Parish was broken into and vandalized, shattering windows,
furniture, utensils and looting all valuable assets such as computers and electronic
devices, cash, gas cylinders, etc.
The windowpane of the school auditorium and Primary Section of the School were
broken and plastic chairs and PA system stolen.
The miscreants also entered the convent and vandalized it and looted all valuables
including the community computer, some cash, and other common home items. The
estimated loss incurred in the Holy Redeemer Parish, is about 2 crores.
3. Holy Cross Church, Kakching Khunou
The church of the Holy Cross Mission Centre, Kakching Khunou was attacked and
vandalized on 04 May 2023. The mob fell short of torching the building structure but
did not spare the doors, windows, the religious articles and facilities in the church. They
dragged out the altar, the ambo, statues and the sound system of the church. The
estimated loss of the attack on Holy Cross church is 5 lakhs.
4. Mary Immaculate Church, Games Village
The community church of Mary Immaculate at Games Village, Imphal was burnt to
ashes on 4 May 2023, mob attack. It was one among the several churches that were
torched in the locality. The church belonged to everyone, although the majority of the
attendees of the church belonged to the Kuki tribe.
5. St. Mary’s Church, Silungpham, Thoubal District
The Catholic Church at Silungpham in Thoubal District was among the many churches
that was burnt in the area. The small village chapel is supported by 6-7 families, leaving
them with no place for gathering for worship. The Loss is estimated at 15 lakh.
6. Sacred Heart Parish Church, Yairipok
Very strong and multiple attempts were made to attack the Sacred Heart Parish Church
at Yairipok. Initially they came with a JCB machine to force through the gate and bring
down the church. After intervention and negotiation led by the local Pradhan and Zila
Parishad members, the mob was turned away. Till the date of this report, the local
Meira Paibis (women folk) are keeping keen watch.
7. St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Sangaiprou
Owing to strong pressure to attack St. Joseph’s School premises, all the inmates,
including those displaced persons from PTC had to be evacuated to safety by the
security personnel. However, after the evacuation some unknown persons broke into
the presbytery of the principal and looted some things.
8. St. George High School, Wangkhei
An ordeal of two nights from mob trying to barge into the convent of St. George’s High
School, Wangkhei, Imphal forced the Sisters to vacate the convent and move to safety.
The mob had verified the identity of the inmates and found that there were no Kuki
individuals in the convent. They had left only to return and recheck the house entering
every room of the convent. The mob was stopped by the intervention of the local people
and intervention of the Police team.
Observation:
• The excuse for attack on the places were that there were Kuki hiding (which was not
true).
• Churches which had no relation to the present conflict became casualties of the present
unrest. The fact that some sections of the people have attacked the churches with
deliberate motive cannot be ruled out. The fact that tens of churches belonging to Meitei
Christians were also burnt in several places. Claims were made that the churches were
attacked as part of revenge for the destruction of a Meitei place of worship in some
parts of the State. However, the number of attacks on churches that had nothing to do
with the conflict indicates the strong and active involvement of some fanatical groups