Insurgency in Manipur

The Insurgency in Manipur is an ongoing armed conflict between India and a number of separatist rebel groups, taking place in the state of Manipur. The Insurgency in Manipur is part of the wider Insurgency in Northeast India; it displays elements of a national liberation war as well as an ethnic conflict.

Background
Manipur's long tradition of independence can be traced to the foundation of the Kangleipak State in 33 AD. Before that, the land was not unified under a single power. The Kingdom of Manipur was conquered by Great Britain following the brief Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, becoming a British protectorate.

The Kuki Rebellion of 1917–1919 was subdued by the British forces which led to the re-organisation of administration in the hills. Direct administrative control over the hill-men was enforced to prevent any further uprising.

Manipur became a part of India on 21 October 1949. However, only after violent protests, it became a separate state in 1972.

The road to the statehood of Manipur has been violent. On October 23, 1969, when Indira Gandhi visited Manipur. The public pelted stones at her when she was delivering her speech. The public set on fire one police vehicle and an ambulance. One police driver died and 66 police personnel got injured. In the police firing, 4 civilians were killed and 6 others were injured. On 16 February 1970 UAC (United Action Committee) launched a huge strike in all the constituencies. In March 1970 they launched pickets at the Secretariat and DC office for the cause of statehood. Police arrested 521 persons and registered 21 cases. As they could not be lodged in the jail, they were taken to sub-jail at Pallel. The self-styled President of Meitei State W. Tomba was arrested with 4 members. They were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The neglect of statehood of Manipur, the Nagaland statehood in 1963 via violence and foreign supports from then East Pakistan and China help the formation of many insurgents groups in North-East India including Manipur.

Manipur's incorporation into the Indian state soon led to the formation of many insurgent organizations, seeking the creation of an independent state within the borders of Manipur, and dismissing the merger with India as involuntary.

During the post-colonial period as ethnic identities became increasingly politicized separating them from cultural context, tribes such as Anal, Moyon, Monsang and Maring who share cultural similarities with the other Kuki tribes, started identifying themselves as Naga. This is seen as a milestone for the consolidation of Naga nationalism by United Naga Council and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah.

History
The annexation of Manipur in 1949 led to split in the polity of Manipur. Political organizations such as Manipur State Congress actively campaigned for union with India while organizations such as Praja Sangh and other parties opposed the union. During this time, Hijam Irabot, a leader of the Communist Party of Manipur was in touch with the Communist Party of Burma to arrange for the training of the militant wing of the party, the Red Guards. After Irabot's death the movement split into various factions.

In the second wave of the insurgency, the first separatist faction, known as United National Liberation Front (UNLF), was founded on 24 November 1964. However, they did not take armed action until 1991. Between 1977 and 1980, the People's Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), were formed, immediately joining the war.

Naga insurgency began in 1980s with the founding of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland. This was followed by the formation of Kuki National Front and the Kuki National Organisation and its armed wing Kuki National Army in 1987 and 1988 respectively.

On 8 September 1980, Manipur was declared an area of disturbance, when the Indian Government imposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 on the region; the act currently remains in force. The provision was lifted in various parts of Manipur in March 2023.

The parallel rise of Naga nationalism in neighboring Nagaland led to the emergence of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) activities in Manipur. Clashes between the Isak-Muivah and Khaplang factions of NSCN further aggravated tensions, as Kuki tribals began creating their own guerrilla groups in order to protect their interests from alleged Naga violations. Other ethnic groups such as Paite, Vaiphei, Pangals and Hmars followed suit establishing militant groups.

Current scenario
In contrast with the other insurgencies in Northeast India, Manipur-based militants are characterized by a low level of defections and a well organized intelligence network. They have also avoided targeting local police personnel, thus aiming to secure popular support.

Extortion remains the main source of funding for militant groups. Hindu Temples, educational institutions and businesses are known to have been targeted with illegal taxation. As many as 26 permanent tax collection checkpoints have been set up on the NH-39 and NH-53 National Highways. Militants have also resorted to abducting children and later employing them as child soldiers. The illegal taxation is done through posts that can be found alongside the NH-39 and NH-53 highways. The taxation is very high compared to the local police excise duties. The effect of these taxations are largely felt by the drivers transporting oil along the highways from Assam to Manipur.

The first suspension of operations (SoO) was signed in 2005 between Kuki militant organizations and the Indian army. In August 2008, a tripartite suspension of operations (SoO) agreement was signed between the Government of India, Government of Manipur and 25 Kuki militant organizations to establish a ceasefire. The agreement lead to a ceasefire and laying down of arms by Kuki militant groups and began the process of negotiations. On 10 March 2023, the Government of Manipur withdrew from the suspension of operations agreement with Kuki National Army and Zomi Revolutionary Front.

From 3 May 2023, Manipur witnessed an ethnic violence which led to a separation of valley and hill areas with purging of Kukis and Meiteis from respective areas. This marked a new era in Manipur's insurgency where the militant groups of respective ethnic communities witnessed a resurgence in membership.

List of militant organizations as per ethnicity
Militant organizations in Manipur display ethnic loyalties among a range of other ideologies.

Timeline
The following is an incomplete list of events relating to the insurgency in Manipur. Most of these events cannot be independently verified because news journalists usually have very limited access to reaching the areas where the fighting take place.


 * 24 November 1964, Arambam Somorendra founded United National Liberation Front.
 * 19 January 1982, Sikh Regiment Jawans coming in three vehicles were ambushed at Namthilok along Imphal-Ukhrul Road to Imphal. In that 21 Jawans were killed and 5 injured.
 * 13 April, 1982, 9 PLA active member including chairman Kunjabihari were killed at Kodompokpi, Nambol.
 * 15 March 1984, UGs snatched 2 SLRs from CRPF camp at Heirangoithong. In the tussle 1 UG and 1 Jawan died. 12 civilians who were playing and watching Volleyball ground got killed by indiscriminate firing, 27 others sustained injury.
 * 30 January 1984, the hill UGs murder Yangmaso Shaiza, Ex CM Manipur.
 * 12 November 1985, R.K .Tulachandra Singh, Chairman of PREPAK was killed in action.


 * 4 July 2000, 18 insurgents surrendered to the authorities of Imphal in the presence of Manipur Chief Minister Nipamacha Singh.
 * 18 September 2001, the Indian military killed 5 PLA members during a shootout in the Khoupum valley, Tamenglong district.
 * 10 February 2003, a KYKL ambush leads to the death of 5 Border Security Force personnel, in Leingangtabi along the Imphal-Moreh road.
 * 16 January 2005, security forces uncovered a PLA camp in Theogtang Zoukanou, Churachandpur district. A total of 76 rifles, 20 small arms, and large amounts of ammunition were seized.
 * 30 June 2005, 5 policemen and 4 PLA rebels were slain in a clash, in Thangjng Ching, Churachandpur district. A radio set, weapons, as well as documentation were confiscated from the dead guerrillas.
 * 16 August 2006 ISKCON Bomb blast killed 5 person and 30 injured.
 * 17 August 2007, police arrested 12 rebels from the official residences of three Members of the Legislative Assembly in Imphal.
 * 31 November 2010, authorities detained UNLF chairman Rajkumar Meghen, the incident took place in Motihari, Bihar.
 * 15 April 2011, a NSCN-IM ambush resulted in the death of 8 people and the injury of 6 others, the victims belonged to the Manipur Legislative Assembly and the Manipur police. The incident took place in Riha, Yeingangpokpi 12 km from Imphal after the then MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing conference meeting, Ukhrul district.
 * 1 August 2011, 5 people were killed and 8 others injured when National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah rebels detonated a bomb outside a barber shop in the Sanghakpam Bazaar, Imphal.
 * 30 April 2012, 103 rebels belonging to UNLF, PULF, KYKL, PREPAK, KNLF, KCP,  PLA,  UNPC,  NSCN-IM,  NSCN-K, UPPK and KRPA and KRF, surrendered before the Chief Minister Ibobi Singh during a ceremony at Mantripukhri in the Imphal West District.
 * 14 September 2013, an IED detonated in a tent housing migrant workers in the city of Imphal, killing at least 9 and injuring 20 people.
 * 20 February 2015, security forces conducted a number of raids in the areas of Wangjing and Khongtal, arresting 5 PREPAK cadres.
 * 23 May 2015, security forces carried out a joint operation in the village of Hingojang, Senapati district. Three rebels were killed, and one was detained after the rebels offered armed resistance.
 * 4 June 2015, guerrillas ambushed a military convoy in Chandel district, killing 18 soldiers and wounding 15 others. UNLFW claimed responsibility for the attack.
 * 9 June 2015, operators of the 21st Para SF Battalion of the Indian army carried out a cross border operation into Myanmar, which resulted in the death of approximately 20 rebels including those who attacked an army convoy on 4 June. Commandos went a few kilometers inside the Myanmar territory to destroy two camps of insurgents hiding there after their attacks in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh on 4 June by NSCN(K) and KYKL outfits.
 * 22 May 2016, rebels ambushed and killed six Indian paramilitary soldiers in Manipur, India near the northeastern region bordering Myanmar.
 * 13 November 2021, rebels ambushed a convoy belonging to Assam Rifles, killing five Indian soldiers and two civilians in Churachandpur district, Manipur. The deceased also included an Indian army colonel and his family. Indian police suspect that rebels belonging to People's Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA) were responsible for the ambush.
 * 2023 Manipur violence — An ethnic clash between the non-tribal Meitei people and tribal Kuki people erupted on 3 May 2023, in Manipur. The violence killed 120 people, and injured more than 3000 people. The violence was accompanied by a resurgence of insurgency groups in the region.