“US Human Rights Report Highlights Abuses in Manipur and Transnational Repression; India Yet to Respond”

The recently released 2023 Human Rights Report by the United States State Department has brought to light what it terms as “significant” abuses in the Indian state of Manipur, particularly in the wake of escalating ethnic conflicts that erupted in May 2023.

Alongside, the report shed light on other concerning incidents such as the tax raids conducted on the UK-based broadcaster BBC and instances of transnational repression, notably citing the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, India has not issued an official response to the report. However, the External Affairs Ministry has previously dismissed similar reports from the US, labeling them as based on “misinformation and flawed understanding.” Last year, the ministry had gone on record stating that such reports were driven by “motivated and biased commentary by some US officials.”

Delving into the specifics of the situation in Manipur, the report underscored a grim reality, noting that at least 175 individuals lost their lives, while over 60,000 were displaced amidst the ongoing conflict.

The strife in Manipur has been primarily attributed to ethnic tensions between the majority Meitei population residing in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo tribal community.

The report paints a harrowing picture of the situation on the ground, citing reports from activists and journalists detailing armed conflicts, instances of rape and assault, as well as the widespread destruction of residential properties, businesses, and places of worship.

In response to the escalating violence, the Indian government resorted to deploying security forces, imposing daily curfews, and implementing internet shutdowns, further exacerbating the plight of affected communities.

Critically, the report highlights the perceived ineffectiveness of the Indian government’s response to the crisis, with even the Supreme Court voicing concerns over its failure to quell the violence.

This critical evaluation underscores the pressing need for robust and effective measures to address the underlying issues fueling the conflict in Manipur, as well as the broader human rights concerns raised in the report.