Manipur has been burning since months now. Historical injustice, civil war and ethnic cleansing has overpowered the social scenario of the state. Normalcy is nowhere visible. With poor government control and absence of law and order, Manipur violence is worsening every hour. The prime reason behind this disaster in Manipur is because of the growing rift between the Meitei and Kuki tribes.

The Meitei and Kuki communities have a long history of conflict in Manipur, India. The latest round of violence began in May 2023, following a tribal solidarity march in Churachandpur district. The march was organized to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The ST status is a legal designation that provides certain benefits to tribal communities, such as reservations in government jobs and educational institutions. The Kuki community opposes the Meitei community's demand for ST status, arguing that it would unfairly benefit the Meitei community at the expense of other tribal groups.

Here are some of the key reasons for the Meitei vs Kuki violence in Manipur can be cited as follows.

• Land and resources: The Meitei and Kuki communities have long been competing for land and other resources in Manipur. The Meitei community is concentrated in the Imphal Valley, while the Kuki community is concentrated in the hill districts. This has led to conflict over land, water, and other resources.
• Political power: The Meitei community is the dominant political group in Manipur, and the Kuki community feels that it is underrepresented in the government. This has led to resentment and conflict between the two communities.
• Religious differences: The Meitei community is predominantly Hindu, while the Kuki community is predominantly Christian. This has also been a source of conflict between the two communities.
• Historical animosities: The Meitei and Kuki communities have a history of conflict, dating back to the 19th century. This history of conflict has made it difficult for the two communities to live together peacefully.

The violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities has been widespread, with both sides targeting civilians and burning villages. The Indian government has deployed troops to the region in an attempt to quell the violence, but the situation remains tense. The rift between the Meitei and Kuki communities is a complex issue with deep historical roots. It is a reminder of the challenges of ethnic coexistence in India, and the need for greater understanding and tolerance between different communities.

The Manipur violence of 2023 has encountered several aspects that are spine chilling. The violence has been concentrated in the hill districts of Manipur, including Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Chandel. As of July 2023, the violence has claimed the lives of over 140 people and displaced thousands more. The Indian government has called the violence a "disgrace to the entire country" and has pledged to bring the perspetrators to justice. However, there has also been wide outrage on social media condemning the central government’s silence, poor control and negligence of the burning issue. The ruling BJP party has been widely accused for the mishandling of the chaos.

Atrocities on women has reached wide outrage and media coverage over the past few days. Amid this unabated violence, a video showing two women from the Kuki community being paraded naked by a mob of men and being sexually assaulted emerged on social media on 19^th of July, that has provoked sharp reactions from all corners. This horrific video shoed hundreds of men groping and parading the naked women in the streets of B Phainom Village. Scores of young men can be seen walking alongside as other men drag the distressed-looking women into the fields, groping their private parts openly. According to reports, the two women were then gang-raped in a field, a tribal organisation alleged. A senior police official has confirmed that the incident took place on 4^th of May in Thoubal district and that a zero FIR had been registered in the matter on 18 May in Kangpokpi district. However, while the FIR on charges including abduction, gang rape and murder against “unknown armed miscreants” was registered two months ago, there have not been any arrests so far, although one of the main culprits was arrested on 21^st of July. He was identified to be Huirem Herodas Meitei. investigation is still going on in an attempt to arrest all the culprits involved.

Normal living has been disrupted in the northeast state ever since 3 May when violence first broke out between the Kuki and Meitei communities. The clashes have have left more than 100 dead and over 400 wounded. Nearly 60,000 people have been displaced and are taking shelter in some 350 camps. Some 40,000 security forces – army soldiers, paramilitaries, police – are struggling to quell the violence. Only a quarter of the more than 4,000 weapons looted by mobs from police armories' have been voluntarily returned since the violence began. This North Eastern state is fighting for normalcy, it is fighting for peace and justice, innocent lives are being taken away for ethnic differences, women are being paraded naked ,and publicly molested, and the world is watching all of these, helplessly!