Khamenlok clash

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Coordinates: 24°58′15″N 94°04′19″E / 24.9707°N 94.0720°E / 24.9707; 94.0720
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Khamenlok clash
Part of 2023–2024 Manipur violence
Date12–14 June 2023
Location
Khamenlok valley, Kangpokpi district, Manipur, India

24°58′15″N 94°04′19″E / 24.9707°N 94.0720°E / 24.9707; 94.0720
Parties

Kuki defenders

  • Village defence volunteers
  • Kuki militants
Number
3,000
Unknown
Casualties and losses
Official: 9 killed, 19 injured
Unofficial: 200–300 killed, 400 injured[1][2]
Unofficial: 1 killed, 3 injured[1][3]
Map
Location of the Aigejang village in the Khamenlok valley, branching off from the Iril River valley on the left

The Khamenlok clash occurred during 12–14 June 2023, in the course of 2023–2024 Manipur violence between the Meitei and Kuki people, in the Khamenlok river valley, a branch valley of the Iril River valley, in the Saikul subdivision of Kangpokpi district. An estimated mob of 3,000 Meitei assailants, some with sophisticated weapons, launched an attack on the Kuki villages in the Khamenlok valley, over a period of three days, burning houses and rampaging the area. While the Kuki villagers escaped to the hills on arrival of the assailants, the security forces were blocked from reaching the area by women activist groups. Finally, on 13 June, while the assailants were celebrating in a church building, the Kuki village defence volunteers descended from the hills and carried out a wholesale massacre of the Meitei mobs. The official death count was nine people, but unofficial estimates were in excess of 200 people.[4][1]

Background[edit]

Manipur violence[edit]

The 2023-2024 Manipur violence broke out on 3 May 2023, soon after a protest rally held by the tribal communities of Manipur. Starting out as clashes between the Meitei and Kuki (tribal) communities of Manipur at the border between Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts, the ethnic violence soon spun out of control engulfing the whole state. All the Meiteis living in the hill districts dominated by Kukis fled their homes and the Kukis living in the Imphal Valley did likewise, causing widespread displacement of over 60,000 people lasting a whole year while the violence continued unabated. The Meitei community has developed organised militias such as Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, which looted state police armouries to gain advanced weaponry,and used it to wage war against the tribal districts inhabited by Kukis.The Kukis, who possess licensed guns due to their hunting occupation, attempted to organise "village defence volunteers", while the security forces created "buffer zones" to keep the two sides apart. Both the sides possessed insurgent groups, whose role in the violence remained unclear.

Khamenlok valley[edit]

The Kangpokpi District,[a] which surrounds the northern Imphal Valley on all sides, is mainly inhabited by Kukis. The jurisdiction of the Valley districts (Imphal West and Imphal East) has been extended over the decades to include the river valleys that feed into Imphal, thus encroaching into the hill areas which otherwise belonged to the Kangpokpi district. These extensions are controversial, causing uncertain borders between the valley districts and Kangpokpi.[5][6]

A portion of the Iril River valley has been part of Imphal East since 1971, but the census map of 2001 shows several branch valleys of Iril included in Imphal East as well. The Khamenlok valley is one such branch valley. It consists of several Kuki villages: H. Khopibung, Khamenlok, Chullouphai, Aigejang, A. Leikot, A. Phainom, Thombol, T. Jordanphai, Songjang and Govajang, which are included in the Kangpokpi district in the census.[7][b] However, the Meitei community appears to lay claim to the valley based on the controversial district maps.

Near the mouth of the Khamenlok valley in the Iril River valley is a large village called Uyumpok (population: 2899), and to its north is Sagolmang (population: 967), both included in the Imphal East district.[9] Sagolmang has a police station, whose jurisdiction includes the Khamenlok valley, even though it is in a different revenue district.[10] Thus, the Imphal East police were responsible for law and order in the area. They were also the main source of news for the media.

At the bottom of the Khamenlok valley is a Meitei village called Nongsum,[c] and, next to it, a Tangkhul Naga village called Khongbal.[9] These two are included in the Imphal East district. The villagers of Nongsum complained of firing and intimidation by the villagers of Khamenlok. One village defence volunteer said that the villagers "will stay firm and take the fight to the Kuki militants".[11]

Clashes[edit]

12 June[edit]

The Times of India reported that on Monday 12 June, by 10:45 am, armed assailants raided the Khopibung and Khamenlok areas, firing at the "group of civilians", and setting houses on fire. By the time Assam Rifles and Gorkha Rifles troops arrived at the village, the gunmen were said to have fled the area. The report said that three people were injured.[12] Other news reported that clashes continued till late evening, and nine people were injured in total, receiving bullet wounds.[13][14]

The Imphal Free Press also claimed, citing Sagolmang police, that "suspected Kuki militants" from Khopibung and Khamenlok villages were attacking the Nongsum village, and that the latter's "village volunteers" were defending themselves, while also admitting that the gunfight was taking place at the Khamenlok village rather than at Nongsum.[14] Two days later, it corrected itself by admitting that the Kuki villages were "already ... burnt down by village volunteers".[3]

The terminology of "Kuki militants" and "(Meitei) village volunteers" was later criticised by Assam Rifles, which said that the (Meitei) assailants were a "mob".[15] The Imphal Free Press also printed that, as soon as the news about the gun battle was circulated, "women folks" (Meira Paibis) in the Khurai Lamlong Keithel area (a suburb of Imphal City on the route to Khamenlok) blocked the roads, so that the armed forces could not reach the area. (This throws the information of The Times of India report into doubt.) Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) commandos, made up of Meitei personnel, are said to have reached the spot, however.[14]

The chief of Khopibung also criticised the media reports stating that all the Kuki villagers were "scattered" and he was having to spend great efforts into gathering them. He also revealed that four Kuki village volunteers had received bullet injuries.[3]

13–14 June[edit]

On 13 June, an estimated mob of 3,000 people went to attack the Khamenlok valley, some carrying sophisticated weapons.[4] According to the Imphal Free Press, after a few hours of firing, the villages Khopibung, Khamenlok, Aigejang and Chullouphai were burnt down.[3] The village chiefs of Khamenlok area said that all the villages in the valley sustained destruction.[7] Meitei women's groups again blocked roads and blew up mobile towers, so that the armed forces could not reach the area and communications also became unavailable.[4][16]

Late in the night, after 10 pm, while the Meitei mobs were resting, the Kuki volunteers descended from the hills and attacked the Meiteis.[17] Early news reports the next morning said that nine Meiteis were killed, and 23 Meiteis were injured, of which two further people had succumbed to the injuries.[18][19][20] Later, the figures were revised down to 9 killed and 10 injured.[4] Five people were said to have been missing.[21] The village chiefs of the area said that "scores of well-armed Meiteis" were killed.[7] The General Secretary of Kuki People's Alliance told The Wire that an estimated 200–300 Meiteis might have been killed, based on the fact that the Kukis recovered about 180 weapons from the victims.[1][2]

The 9 people killed came from various villages in valley districts such as Leimakhong, Khurai, Pangei and Ningthemcha, and included a 32-year-old woman.[21]

The Hindu described the attack as a "retalitory strike by village guards",[4] while the Imphal-based media continued to call them "Kuki militants" attacking "village volunteers".[22] The Times of India said that the Kuki villagers came with guns, spears, daggers, cleavers and other traditional weapons.[21]

According to the official narrative, the nine people were killed in a church building in the village of Aigejang. The victims claimed that they had gone deliver food to the Meitei mobs, who were at other locations when the attack occurred.[22][17]

Aftermath[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Kangpokpi district was previously the Sadar Hills subdivision of the Senapati district.
  2. ^ The 2011 census of the Senapati district lists the villages of H. Khopibung (population: 208), Khamenlok (population: 241), Challouphai (population: 120), Aigejang (population: 412), D. Leikot (population: 215), Thombol (population: 107), Jordanphai (population: 169), Songjang (population: 183), and Govajang (population: 160).[8] It also lists the Khongbal Tangkhul village, exemplifying the confusion over district boundaries.[8]
  3. ^ Alternative spellings: Nongshum, Nungshum.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Massacre at Khamenlok: Kuki leader claims they killed over 200 Meiteis, Notheast Affairs, 27 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b Thapar & Hangshing 2023, 10:53 minutes in, 15:22 minutes in.
  3. ^ a b c d Three more villages burned down in Khamenlok area, Imphal Free Press, 14 June 2023. ProQuest 2825344625
  4. ^ a b c d e Vijaita Singh, Iboyaima Laithangbam, Retaliatory strike by village guards leaves nine dead in Manipur, The Hindu, 14 June 2023. Updated 15 June 2023, 10:17 IST.
  5. ^ Manipur Administrative Atlas (PDF), Census of India, Government of India, 2005, Maps 8–11
  6. ^ Vijaita Singh, Several hill villages in Manipur wrongly included in valley districts: ST panel, The Hindu, 11 September 2023. "A report by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has observed that several hill villages in Manipur were wrongly included in the valley districts during the Census 2011 exercise."
  7. ^ a b c Kaybie Chongloi, Manipur: Khamenlok area chiefs 'call bluff' on reports of violence against Meiteis, EastMojo, 17 June 2023.
  8. ^ a b Senapati District Census Handbook (2011), p. 194.
  9. ^ a b Imphal East District Census Handbook (2011), p. 106.
  10. ^ Prabin Kalita, Man killed in Manipur as guv visits relief camp in district, The Times of India, 13 June 2023. ProQuest 2825009310 "Although part of another district, the area is under the jurisdiction of Imphal East Police."
  11. ^ Nongshum villagers seek Govt's intervention, The Sangai Express, 27 May 2023.
  12. ^ Man killed in Manipur as guv visits relief camp in district, The Times of India, 13 June 2023. ProQuest 2825009310
  13. ^ Manipur: Violence erupts once again, exchange of fire between militants and villagers, 9 injured, Weekly Blitz, 13 June 2023. ProQuest 2825202497
  14. ^ a b c Manipur Turmoil: Fierce gunfight at Khamenlok, nine injured, Imphal Free Press, 12 June 2023. ProQuest 2824817816
  15. ^ Manipur FIRs: Nearly 2 months before Editors Guild report, army letter pointed to 3 cases, ‘media bias’, Newslaundry, 12 September 2023.
  16. ^ Thapar & Hangshing 2023, 10:15 minutes in.
  17. ^ a b "9 killed in fresh violence in Manipur". The Indian Express. 14 June 2023.
  18. ^ IANS, Militants gun down 11 people in Manipur, Nagaland Post, 14 June 2023. ProQuest 2825415998
  19. ^ Top news of the day: Gujarat government moves 47,000 people to safety ahead of Cyclone Biparjoy’s landfall; Madras High Court judge recuses himself from hearing habeas corpus plea of T.N. Minister Senthilbalaji’s wife, and more, The Hindu, 14 June 2023.
  20. ^ Iboyaima Laithangbam (14 June 2023), "Manipur violence: At least 11 killed in late night attack in Khamenlok", The Hindu, 03:51pm IST, archived from the original on 14 June 2023
  21. ^ a b c 9 killed, 10 injured in bloodiest day of Manipur ethnic clashes, The Times of India, 15 June 2023. ProQuest 2827618272
  22. ^ a b Manipur Violence: Murder in church, nine killed, Imphal Free Press, 14 June 2023. ProQuest 2825552540
Sources
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