Yaingangpokpi
Yaingangpokpi | |
|---|---|
  Yaingangpokpi Location in Manipur, India  Yaingangpokpi Yaingangpokpi (India) | |
| Coordinates: 24°54′42″N 94°07′14″E / 24.9118°N 94.1206°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Manipur |
| District | Imphal East |
| Area | |
• Total | 200 km2 (80 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 3,765 |
| Language(s) | |
| • Official | Meitei (Manipuri) |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
 | |
Yaingangpokpi is a village in the Imphal East District of Manipur, India.[2] It is 24 km from Imphal. The major ethnic groups within the village are Meitei, Tangkhul. The Tangkhuls live in the adjoining village of New Canaan.[3]
Geography
[edit]Yaingangpokpi is at the intersection of two valleys: one that runs north–south and brings a stream called Leima Khong, and another that runs northeast–southwest and carries the NH 202 between Imphal and Ukhrul. The streams coming from both the valleys pass through Yaingangpokpi, but Leima Khong is the larger.
Adjoining Yaingangpokpi on the north is Thamnapokpi and next to it is Sanasabi, both substantial villages. To the northeast is Gwaltabi and to the southwest are Sabungkhok and Sabungkhok Khunou. The Army refers to the entire region as "Yaingangpokpi bowl" ("YKPI bowl").[4] All its villages are enumerated together in the census under the name Laikot.[5][a] Their combined population in 2011 was 3,765, with 226 people belonging to Scheduled Tribes (mostly Tangkhul Nagas).[1] This total also includes other villages such as Seijang, which are not part of the "Yaingangpokpi bowl".
The hill areas lining the valleys are in the Kangpokpi district, with numerous villages populated by Kuki-Zo people.[b] Particularly noteworthy is a hill called Uyok Ching which is due west of Thamnapokpi. The Kuki-Zo people in the villages around it used it as a strategic ridge for defensive as well as offensive purposes during the 2023–2024 Manipur violence.[3] To the south of Uyok Ching in a small branch valley are villages called Twichin and P. Phaimol.[c][7] To the northwest is a village called Saibol. To the east of Thamnapokpi and Sanasabi, behind a ridge, are the villages of Kh. Phaipijang and Urangpat. To the south of Urangpat, across NH 202, is Gwaltabi Kuki, the Kuki portion of the Gwaltabi village in Kangpokpi district.[8] Kuki villages also abound in the valley to the north of Sanasabi, which appears to be part of the Kangpokpi district.
Yaingangpokpi has a police station. All the villages of Imphal East mentioned above fall under its jurisdiction.[9]
2023–2024 Manipur violence
[edit]On 3 May 2023, major ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities of Manipur. Within weeks over 100 people died and 60,000 people got displaced. All the Kuki-Zo people in the Imphal Valley and the Meitei people in the Kuki-Zo-dominated hill districts were forced to flee to the other side. Tensions also erupted in the Yaingangpokpi area as the valleys are surrounded by Kuki-dominated hill villages. The villagers in the valley areas demanded adequate security and cautioned that if it was not provided, they would take every necessary measure to protect their villages.[10]
The first sign of trouble appeared on 28 May. The Hindustan Times reported that armed men came down to Yaingangpokpi, torched two houses and fired upon villagers.[11] The Ukhrul Times, on the other hand, reported that ten houses were torched, mostly in the Gwaltabi area. (Gwaltabi has a Meitei portion and a Kuki portion divided across the two districts.) The Meiteis evidently retaliated and burnt down numerous Kuki houses in the villages of P. Phaimol, Twichin and a "new village" close to them.[12] The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) later said that Meitei mobs led by Arambai Tenggol and Manipur Police Commandos were responsible for the burning.[13] Ukhrul Times also cited sources stating that 50 houses were burnt down in "Gwaltabi".[7] Satellite imagery reveals that most of the destruction was in the Gwaltabi Kuki village. The next day, the Army said that it conducted operations in Sanasabi, Gwaltabi and Sabungkhok Khunou and apprehended 22 miscreants, many with weapons.[14]
In June, the Army mentioned that Urangpat and Gwaltabi (Kuki villages) had been vacated and security forces were deployed in them. Rumours were circulated on social media that 1,000 miscreants had assembled in parts of Kangpokpi district, especially in these two villages. The Army reported that the villages were fired upon and that the security forces responded. It also mentioned that large groups of women from Yaingangpokpi and Seijang villages blocked force reinforcements from coming to the area.[15][16]
In October, a similar attempt was made to attack the Twichin and P. Phaimol villages (which had been mostly burnt down in May). The security forces stationed in the "buffer zone" blocked the attackers and repelled them. Women groups again obstructed security forces at Sabungkhok until all the attackers coming from Imphal (in 30–40 vehicles) passed through.[17] The Sangai Express mentioned that the security forces had lathi-charged the womenfolk, and nine of them had to be hospitalised.[18]
The Imphal-based media[d] reported few of these attacks on the Kuki villages, but mentioned regular attacks by "Kuki militants" on the valley villages "at least once or twice a month".[20]
The Saibol village, which might have escaped the first wave of conflict, was mentioned in February 2024. There was reportedly firing between two armed groups along "Saibol heights", which is evidently a reference to the Uyok Ching ridge. Two people were killed, and three people were injured including a junior commissioned officer.[21] During the summer of 2024, the term "Saibol post" began to be used on social media. There was exchange of fire between those manning the heights and the Meitei village volunteers in the valley.[22] On 8 August, it was reported that the Manipur Government had ordered the removal of the hilltop posts. The Kuki women from the entire region protested in massive numbers.[23] There was exchange of fire again in November injuring a soldier and a Tangkhul Naga farmer from New Canaan.[24][25] On 29 November, Meitei village committees in the region wrote to the Union Home Ministry and Defence Ministry, expressing concern over the "illegal bunkers" set up on the Uyok Ching ridge and alleged Army's complicity in allowing their construction. They have also asked the Army forces in the region to be replaced by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).[26]
A gunfight at the locality was reported on 24 December, the Christmas Eve,[27] continuing over the following days. On 28 December, four people were injured including a Manipur Police Commando and an Impact News cameraperson.[28][29] Chief Minister N. Biren Singh condemned the incident, blaming it on "Kuki militants".[28] Kuki-Zo Council, the apex civil society body of the community, also issued a condemnation, placing the blame on the valley-based insurgent groups (Meitei insurgent groups).[30] On 29 December, the central forces BSF and CRPF conducted a combing operation on the Uyok Ching hill, destroying four bunkers and occupying three other bunkers.[31]
Notes
[edit]- ^ It is unclear if "Laikot" is an actual village by itself, since it is not listed among the villages under the local gram panchayat (village council).[6] Neither is it mentioned in news reports.
- ^ Kuki-Zo people are also often referred to as simply as "Kuki people". This is especially the case for Thadou Kukis, who are predominant in the Kangpokpi district.
- ^ P. Phaimol is often referred to as Sangaren by Meitei sources.[3]
- ^ The Imphal media had turned into "Meitei media" with the onset of the violence, according to a report by the Editors Guild of India.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Imphal East District Census Handbook (2011), listing for Laikot, p.112
- ^ "Village (गाव): Yaingangpokpi". localbodydata.com. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Manipur Violence: Two Injured in Separate Shooting Incidents on Monday Morning, Ukhrul Times, 11 November 2024.
- ^ ANI, Manipur: 22 apprehended for setting several houses on fire, The Print, 29 May 2023.
- ^ Imphal East District Census Handbook (2011), map of Sawombung subdivision, p. 100.
- ^ Blocks & Panchayats, Imphal East District Administration, retrieved 5 January 2025. See the listing for "Tellou Chana Seijang G.P."
- ^ a b Over 80 houses torched in Gwaltabi area on Sunday; Over two-third are Kuki villages, Ukhrul Times, 29 May 2023.
- ^ Senapati District Census Handbook (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Manipur, 2011, p. 194
- ^ Manipur: Security Forces Personnel Injured In Clash As Security Forces Repel Attack On Farmers, Northeast Today, 11 November 2024.
- ^ Manipur Unrest: Villagers demand security deployment in villages of Imphal East, Imphal Free Press, 10 May 2023.
- ^ Fresh violence in Manipur kills 5, including cop, injures 12, Hindustan Times, 29 May 2023. ProQuest 2819894755
- ^ Over 80 houses torched in Gwaltabi area on Sunday; Over two-third are Kuki villages, Ukhrul Times, 29 May 2023. "Around 30 houses belonging to the Kuki tribals namely Phaimol village were torched. Around 40 houses in Twichin village, and around 10 houses in New village were also burnt down in retaliation."
- ^ Kaybie Chongloi, Manipur violence: CoTU strongly condemns attacks on Kuki-Zo villages, urges increased security deployment, India Today NE, 22 August 2023.
- ^ PTI, Army rounds up 25 miscreants with arms in Manipur, The Hindu, 29 May 2023.
- ^ Manipur: 3 injured in suspected IED blast, fresh clashes, Hindustan Times, 22 June 2023. ProQuest 2827998305
- ^ Firing incident reported at two Manipur villages, armed forces respond, Hindustan Times, 23 June 2023. ProQuest 2828796360
- ^ Manipur violence: Armed miscreants unleash sporadic gunfire in Kangpokpi district, India Today NE, 12 October 2023. 4:21pm IST.
- ^ 2 village volunteers hurt as Kuki militants launch heavy attack, The Sangai Express, 13 October 2023.
- ^ Govt ‘partisan’, fake news in Manipur media deepening divide: Editors’ Guild fact-finding report, Newslaundry, 2 September 2023.
- ^ Rajkumar Bobichand, Government Should Give Special Attention to Sanasabi and its Neighbouring Villages to Stop the Violence, Imphal Review of Arts and Politics, 2 December 2023.
- ^ Manipur: Three killed in separate incidents, one trying to loot weapons, amid fresh tensions, Scroll.in, 14 February 2024.
- ^ Kuki ultras attack Thamnapokpi, The Sangai Express, 14 June 2024.
- ^ Kuki women protest against removal of Saibol Post, Imphal Free Press, 8 August 2024. ProQuest 3090104924
- ^ Thomas Ngangom, Jawan injured as militants attack multiple locations in violence-hit Manipur, Hindustan Times, 10 November 2024.
- ^ Manipur Violence: Two Injured in Separate Shooting Incidents on Monday Morning, Ukhrul Times, 11 November 2024.
- ^ Indian Army Accused of Joining hands with Kuki militants; Home Ministry’s intervention sought, Ukhrul Times, 30 November 2024.
- ^ Gunfights at several places in Imphal East, The Indian Express, 26 December 2024.
- ^ a b Manipur Violence: News Cameraperson Injured in Ongoing Shooting Incident at Imphal East, Ukhrul Times, 28 December 2024.
- ^ Fresh violence hits Manipur; journalist, cop among 4 injured, The Times of India, 29 December 2024. ProQuest 3149761682
- ^ Kuki-Zo Council Condemns Attacks on Community, Demands Govt’s Intervention, Ukhrul Times, 29 December 2024.
- ^ PTI, Security forces destroy four bunkers after gunfights in Manipur, The Hindu, 30 December 2024.
- Sources
- Imphal East District Census Handbook (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Manipur, 2011