Kukis, Meiteis back on edge; the trigger this time may have been felled trees

The Sunulok Hills killings of October 19 have reignited tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur, following a period of relative peace. Initial reports suggest that the incident may have been triggered by a dispute over tree felling in the Khongbal Sunulok Hills, situated along the Imphal East-Kangpokpi border.

Local villagers alleged that Meitei men were regularly taking wood from the area, prompting some militants and village volunteers to intervene. Upon encountering these individuals, the group allegedly tried to flee but were subsequently shot by gunmen, resulting in the deaths of three Meitei men.

While authorities suspect the Kuki National Front (Nehlun) of involvement, the group has denied any responsibility. A security officer stated that the initial intention was likely to scare the Meiteis or detain them for a ransom, but the violence escalated, leading to the fatalities. Kuki groups described the incident as unfortunate and ill-timed, as they have been at odds with the Nagas for the past nine months and have been working towards reconciliation with the Meiteis.

Three village volunteers have been arrested in connection with the killings and have led investigators to eight hidden weapons. Forensic examination is being conducted to determine if any of these firearms were used in the incident. The investigation has also exposed discrepancies at Kuki militant camps under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, which was set to expire last month but has not yet been renewed.

On October 20, security forces conducted a surprise inspection of the Sinai Camp in Semol village and found only 18 people present out of the 159 registered cadres. All 17 additional individuals were found to be using fictitious identities to impersonate registered Kuki cadres, leading to their arrest.

Some of the seized weapons and ammunition have been found to be missing, prompting further investigation. On October 25, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited the camp for an inspection, noting that such surprise checks are not uncommon and have been conducted since the May incident where six abducted Nagas were killed by Kuki militant groups.

Three-four camps have been subjected to these inspections, with only 30-40% of registered militants reportedly present, according to sources. The militant groups have been instructed to establish the identities of all camp inmates, with non-compliance potentially resulting in the withholding of stipends for militants residing at these camps.