Hindu militants seize Christian properties in Manipur with police complicity
Imphal: Nearly two years after anti-Christian violence erupted in Manipur, properties once owned by the Christian dominated Kuki-Zo community in an area known as Zomi Villa in the state’s Imphal West district have been forcibly taken over by the Hindu-majority Meitei militant group Arambai Tenggol, with the state apparatus either complicit or absent.
According to Kashmir Media Service, once a peaceful Kuki settlement, Zomi Villa has undergone a chilling transformation. The area is now referred to “Arambai Tenggol Colony,” with homes and shops formerly owned by Kukis now rebranded and marked with militant identifiers. Locals say the group collects rent, enforces surveillance, and punishes any form of contact with the rightful Kuki owners. “If they catch us speaking to Kuki landlords, they fine us and threaten us. We’re scared for our lives,” a shopkeeper told Indian news portal The Wire on condition of anonymity.
Just a few steps away from this unlawful occupation sits a police post, silent and inactive. The state’s failure to act comes despite a September 2023 order by the Indian Supreme Court, which directed the Manipur government to protect properties of displaced persons and prevent illegal encroachments. On the ground, however, that order appears meaningless.
Locals told The Wire that Arambai Tenggol continues to extract money openly, with no fear of legal consequences. A resident described the situation as “living under occupation.” He added, “More than 300 armed militants live in the colony. They threaten us and collect money. The police do nothing. I feel trapped in my own state.” Another resident added that over 70 Kuki homes and numerous shops in the Zomi Villa area are now under Arambai Tenggol’s control, lamenting, “Is there any law left in Manipur?”
Despite the imposition of President’s Rule and direct control by the Indian government, ground realities in Imphal remain unchanged. As Manipur approaches the second anniversary of the May 2023 violence, widely seen as targeted attacks against the Christian Kuki-Zo community, questions loom large over the rule of law and minority rights.
