The ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur, India, show no signs of abating, with incidents of terror, murder, and heinous crimes continuing to emerge five months after the initial clashes broke out.
What initially began as clashes following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ by the Kuki community, who were opposing the demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the Hindu majority Meitei indigenous community, has escalated into a deeply troubling situation.
One particularly horrifying incident involved two Kuki women being paraded naked by a mob of Meitei men, further exacerbating tensions between the two communities.
In the latest tragic turn of events, images began circulating on social media depicting the bodies of two teenage Meitei students—Phijam Hemjit Singh and Luwangbi Linthoingambi Hijam—who had been missing since July. These images went viral, igniting fresh protests in the strife-torn valley.
The conflict, which began on May 3 with the ‘Tribal Solidarity March,’ has now claimed the lives of more than 180 people and left several hundreds injured. The march was organized in the hill districts to protest against the demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the Hindu Meitei community, who make up approximately 53% of Manipur’s population and primarily reside in the Imphal valley. The tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, constitute around 40% of the population and predominantly live in the hill districts.
The unsettling events surrounding the two missing students, Luwangbi Linthoingambi Hijam and Phijam Hemjit Singh, unfolded as follows:
In July, both sets of parents were left desperately seeking answers after their children, a daughter, Luwangbi Linthoingambi Hijam, and a son, Phijam Hemjit Singh, went missing. Surveillance camera footage had captured the duo’s last known location, but Manipur Police were unable to trace the teenagers.
Luwangbi Linthoingambi Hijam, aged 17, had left home to attend NEET classes for pre-medical studies on a July morning when curfew restrictions were temporarily eased. Her father, who typically accompanied her to and from her coaching center, was unable to do so on this particular day due to illness.
CCTV footage revealed that Luwangbi was seen riding a KTM Duke 200 motorcycle with her friend, Phijam Hemanjit Singh.
Despite allegations of the teenagers eloping, supposedly due to their romantic involvement, the duo remained missing for months, causing great distress to their families.
Manipur Police reported that the CCTV footage from shops along the route the teens took showed them heading towards Nambol, located 16 km from Imphal. However, their mobile phones were switched off at locations approximately 18 km apart: one in Kwakta, part of Bishnupur district in the valley, and the other in Lamdan, situated in Churachandpur within the hill areas.
The viral images of the two teenagers are dated July 8, two days after they went missing. To investigate the alleged “kidnapping and killing” of the students, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team, led by Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, has arrived in Imphal.
The situation in Manipur remains deeply concerning, with ongoing tensions between communities and an urgent need for resolution and peace in the region.
