Pain and hope two years after Manipur violence

Two years after ethnoreligious violence erupted in Manipur, India, the devastating effects are still being felt by many. Christians in the community were disproportionately targeted by both sides and, as two believers share at this anniversary, they are still suffering the impact.

The violence in Manipur State between the tribal Kuki-Zo and the majority Meitei community broke out on 3 May 2023, leaving thousands displaced, hundreds dead, villages and houses destroyed, and hundreds of churches looted and burned.

Two years later, the state remains deeply divided. Huge numbers remain scattered and homeless, with uncertainty hanging over the families’ hopes of returning to their villages and homes.


Manipur during the riot in 2023
 

“It is still the longest night of our lives”

“The day, 3 May 2023, came and went, but it has never left our hearts,” says Lalboi*, a Christian from the tribal community who hasn’t been able to go home. “It is still the longest night of our lives. I witnessed the gunshots and the burst of gas cylinders, with smoke engulfing the skies. We hid in our houses, lights off and silent.”

  Four generations of Lalboi’s family lived in his home, and they were involved in helping the marginalised in their society. His father worked with the local government to provide educational assistance to needy children, establish sustainable livelihoods for poor families, and connect chronic patients to proper medical treatment. All of this changed in a single night.

“Two years have passed, and the social divide has become more real,” says Lalboi. “Our communication with friends from the opposite community has stopped. There is fear and misrepresentation. There is scrutiny over who benefits from others’ misfortune, and celebrations of the opposition’s losses, on social media.

“Even after two years, our community still suffers silently, as the echoes of lost voices outweigh the number of new hellos.”
 

What Neinu misses the most

Another young Christian, Neinu*, had to flee with her family to a neighbouring state. Like Lalboi’s family, they haven’t been able to return to the home they knew and loved.

“It has been two years now since I last saw and laughed in the comfort of our home,” says Neinu. She often thinks about what life would have been like, if the crisis hadn’t happened. “Would I be lying in my bed, unbothered by the hustle and bustle outside? Or would I be doing household chores, the ones I used to dread and still do? Would I be sharing a warm meal with my family in our dining room, which I often opted out of and now miss? Endless possibilities come to mind.”

  She continues, “I try not to think about it but, many times, I find myself lost in thoughts of what could have been. My family hid in my parents’ room while a maniacal mob wreaked chaos outside. My last five days during the violence felt like a nightmare. I never imagined running for my life from people I once walked the same streets with.”
 

Division online – but stories of hope

Tensions remain high in Manipur, though there is less gunfire at the frontlines. Armed youth from both the communities remain on constant duty, highlighting the ongoing trust-issues and unresolved conflicts. Persecution against Christians from the majority Meitei community in the plain areas continues – from extremist groups and others in the community. Christians have been barred from prayer fellowships, even in their own homes, and stripped of social privileges. Kuki-Zo Christians, on the other hand, are more able to attend church and gather for prayer in tribal areas.

Communication was extremely difficult during the peak of the violence, as the internet was down – but the return of the internet also brought with it widespread anger and division on social media. It became a battleground, filled with false news circulating across every platform.

Yet, amid the hate and growing enmity, there are also many testimonies of families from both Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities helping one another with medical supplies, shelter and groceries. They pray and hope for a future where they can live in unity, just as they did before the violence erupted.


Believers from Manipur meet together to worship
 

Hope that endures

Neinu testifies, “As I share, I am reminded of Romans 8:28: ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.’ It is a reminder that God is still working behind the scenes for our good and for a greater purpose.”

Lalboi adds, “The struggles we’ve faced remind us that there is purpose in His calling. It may not be how we imagined it to be, but we are valued in His sight, and that is enough to restore our strength. At our home, there is a slate which reads, ‘Call to me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3. This has been our family’s guiding light.”

Please join Neinu and Lalboi in praying for the future of Manipur. Though the initial crisis is over, prayer is still desperately needed for unity, peace and rebuilding in this state.

*Names changed for security reasons