By Matters India Reporter
Moirang, May 4, 2023: A Jesuit team was attacked by a mob May 3 in Moirang, a town in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.
The team was returning after house blessings to their residence in Moirang, some 45 km south of the state capital of Imphal, when an angry mob stopped their vehicle.
They were allowed to go ahead some in the crowd recognized the vehicle but some drunken people who were ahead of the crowd misunderstood that the Jesuit team had ignored the people’s demand to stop.
They forced the vehicle to stop, broke its windshields and assaulted those inside — priests, seminarians and a lay teacher. The priests and seminarians were wearing the cassock. The mob also burned the vehicle.
However, some local people took the Jesuit team to their homes and protected them. Later, they took the team to the police station, where they spent the night. Two seminarians in the team were injured and given first aid in a hospital.
Trouble had been brewing in Manipur for the last few days between the Hindu Meiteis and the Christian Kuki tribals. The Kukis are upset with some recent government policies, which they fear, would affect their future. They organized a peace rally two days ago, following which some Meiteis were killed. This angered the Meiteis and led them to retaliate.
Some people with vested interests seem to give the issue a communal color. They go round destroying churches in the Imphal Valley. A few churches have been destroyed even in the Moirang area under Bishnupur district.
Until now, as many as 24 churches belonging to different Christian denominations have been destroyed since the trouble began, according to a list circulated among Christian groups in the region.
A Jesuit in the state, who requested anonymity, said some people tried to destroy a chapel in their campus in Moirang. However the local people, especially the Parents Body members and teachers, have supported the Jesuits. They have guarded the campus since May 2 night.
Those causing trouble seem to be outsiders who have come with a mandate to destroy churches. Even the attackers of the Jesuit team were apparently outsiders.
“We were not the target of the attack but we happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” the Jesuit bemoaned.
All the Jesuits in the area on May 4 morning returned to their residence in Moirang, after an overnight stay outside, some for better security and others for medical attention. “They are safe but quite shaken up. Please keep them in your prayers,” the Jesuit continued.
What is happening in Manipur?
Tribals, especially Kuki, Zomi, Hmar groups are being targeted in what may be called a well calculated spell of violence in Imphal.
Churches are ransacked or burnt and houses destroyed. Tribal neighborhoods live in fear as mobs attack various parts of the city, with security forces remaining mute spectators in most cases. Many tribals in the city have sought shelter.
It all started May 3 when the Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) organized a peaceful rally to condemn the Scheduled Tribe status demand by the state’s dominant Meitei community. Thousands of people joined the rally in all the 11 hill districts.
However, some miscreants burnt a Anglo-Kuki Centenary gate near Leisang village in Churachandpur. The village is close to the border of Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts.
This led to a clash between villagers from Churachandpur and Bishnpur, around Kangvai. As houses were burnt hundreds of villagers took shelter in nearby forests.
Three people were shot dead and 16 wounded in the clashes.
Meanwhile, some vested interest are giving a communal color alleging that Christian tribal people have attacked Hindu Meitei people.