Bengalureans demand justice for Kuki community

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: The north-eastern Indian state of Manipur has been rocked by violence in recent weeks, with hundreds killed and several injured. The violence has displaced thousands of people and caused widespread damage to life and property.

Cries for justice from Bengaluru

Over 300 people from all religions gathered in solidarity with Manipuri citizens facing violence on May 30. The Indian Christian Unity Forum and other secular citizens demanded an immediate solution to the crisis. They said that hundreds of churches were burnt, thousands of Christian families lost their dwellings, and many were killed.

They also said that the State and Central Home Ministries had turned a blind eye and let the situation spiral out of control. They requested the President of India to intervene immediately and dismiss the present government and impose the President's Rule in the State.

Reverend L Kipgen, a Priest from the Kuki Inpi community in Karnataka, voiced his heartbreak and distress concerning the ongoing injustices faced by his community and family in Manipur. Speaking on behalf of his entire community, Reverend Kipgen emphasised their sincere desire for peace and justice, rather than engaging in any form of violence or confrontation.

The Reverend who hails from Manipur and resides in Bengaluru highlighted the unfortunate reality that war seems to have been declared on their community, primarily attributed to the actions of Manipur's Chief Minister, Biren Singh.

‘Violence unacceptable’

Talking about the most unjust part of the violence, the reverend said, “In wars and conflicts, attack and killing is compelled to do so but targeting religious shrines and genocide of innocents is completely unacceptable. Reverend Kipgen, a Kuki community leader, expressed his frustration at the destruction of a place of worship.

He said, "How can anyone destroy a place of worship? It is a sin! We are just fighting for our fundamental rights. Just because we are for our community does not mean we are against another community. But why are we portrayed that way?" Vikram Anthony, the President of the Indian Christian Unity Forum, expressed his deep concern over the current situation, describing it as a distressing political game of chess where members of the Kuki community are being mercilessly targeted.

In his statement, Anthony lamented the heartbreaking reality of witnessing fellow human beings fall victim to this political power play. He emphasized the need to recognize the profound loss of life and suffering endured by individuals within the Kuki community. Mangneo Lhungdim, President of Kuki Inpi Karnataka and Member of Bangalore Unau Forum, stands in solidarity with his community in Manipur.

He suggests that this situation could have been prevented, and the state government could have avoided this loss of life and property. He said that the government forgot the existence of the Kuki community and added, “If something like this had happened in Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru or Kolkata, this would have become a huge issue. Since it is northeast, we are being ignored by our own country.”

Mangneo Lhungdim said, “We strongly condemn the ethnic cleansing of the Kukis in Manipur and the spread of falsehoods and hatred. The accusations against the Manipur tribals are false and the Meitei community is responsible for the violence. We call for an end to the violence and for the protection of the Kukis.”

Justice for victims

Reverend Kipgen, a Kuki community leader, has demanded the intervention of the President of India to restore normalcy in Manipur. He said that the Kuki community victims who fled the state are now in relief camps set up by churches and other tribal communities in nearby states. They are terrified to return to their homes after being traumatised by the violence. The government has not provided any relief to the victims, which is a violation of their human rights.