Relevance: GS III (Internal Security: North-East Insurgency) | Source: The Hindu / Indian Express

1. The Incident: A New Fault Line?

Violence has erupted in the Litan Sareikhong area of Ukhrul district between the Naga (Tangkhul) and Kuki-Zo communities.

• Context: Since May 2023, the conflict in Manipur was primarily between the Meiteis (Valley) and Kuki-Zo (Hills). The entry of the Nagas (the third major community, dominant in hill districts like Ukhrul) marks a dangerous widening of the conflict.
• Trigger: The assault of a Naga man led to retaliatory attacks, arson, and stone-pelting.
• State Response: The administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and deployed the Army/Assam Rifles.

2. Historical Context: The “Triangular” Conflict

Manipur’s demography is often described as a delicate balance between three groups:

• Meiteis: Dominant in the central Imphal Valley (mostly Hindu/Sanamahi).
• Nagas & Kukis: Dominant in the surrounding Hills (mostly Christian).
• Past Tensions: While Nagas remained largely neutral in the recent Meitei-Kuki violence, history has seen bloody Naga-Kuki clashes (especially in the 1990s) over land control and homeland claims. The current violence threatens to reignite this old rivalry.

3. Governance & Legal Framework

• Section 163 BNSS: This provision replaces the colonial-era Section 144 of CrPC. It empowers the District Magistrate to issue urgent orders to prevent nuisance or apprehended danger (e.g., banning assembly of 5+ people).
• Civil Society Organizations (CSOs): In the North East, peace is often brokered not just by the state but by powerful CSOs (like the Naga Hoho, Kuki Inpi, or Tangkhul Naga Long) which hold significant sway over their communities.

4. Strategic Importance: Highways

The article highlights the security of National Highway 137A (Imphal-Kakching).

• Lifelines: Manipur is landlocked. Highways like NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) are critical for essential supplies. Blockades on these routes are a common insurgent tactic to choke the state’s economy.

UPSC Value Box

Q. With reference to the administration of tribal areas in North-East India, consider the following statements:

1. The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution applies to the administration of tribal areas in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
2. Manipur’s Hill Districts are governed under the Sixth Schedule provisions.
3. The Inner Line Permit (ILP) system is currently applicable in the state of Manipur.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)