Nongthombam Biren Singh, who had repeatedly resisted calls to resign over his handling of the Meitei-Kuki conflict since May 2023, finally stepped down on Sunday. His resignation came on the eve of the assembly’s budget session and a potential no-confidence motion by Congress against the BJP-led government.
HISTORY OF TURBULENCE
April 20, 2023 | A single judge bench of the Manipur HC directed state govt to consider the Meitei community’s demand for ST status.
April 28, 2023 | The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum calls for a total shutdown against the govt. Biren Singh cancelled his visit to Churachandpur district to inaugurate an open-air gym which was vandalised by protesters the previous day.
May 3, 2023 | A peaceful All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur march to oppose ST status for the Meitei community turned violent leading to full blown Meitei-Kuki conflict.
May 5, 2023 | 54 killed in first three days, Centre invokes Article 355 and takes over security machinery.
May 28, 2023 | Miscreants from both communities went on arms looting spree from police stations, IR battalions, police training academy. About 4,000 weapons were looted in just about couple of weeks. These weapons were used in the deadly violence that followed.
May 29, 2023 | Union home minister Amit Shah arrives in Imphal on a four-day visit, meets Meitei groups in Imphal and Kuki people at Moreh.
April 16, 2024 | Shah’s second visit, protesters hit the streets of Imphal a day before to demonstrate their anger against Shah for visiting state only to campaign for BJP for the Lok Sabha elections.
June 29, 2023 | Rahul makes his first 2-day visit, stopped from traveling by road to Chuarchandpur by state police; takes chopper. Meets displaced residents at Moirang next day.
July 19, 2023 | A video, circulated on social media, shows two Kuki women who were paraded naked and one of them allegedly gang-raped by a mob consisting of men mainly from the Meitei community. The incident reportedly took place on May 4. The video goes viral and sparks outrage across the country. PM Modi says this is ‘‘shameful for any civil society”
April, 2024 | BJP loses both seats to Congress.
Nov 11, 2024 | 6 Meitei women and children kidnapped by Kuki-Zo men. Their bodies found days later in river near Assam border.
Nov 11, 2024 | 10 alleged Kuki-Zo militants killed by CRPF.
Manipur governor A K Bhalla accepted Biren Singh’s resignation and directed him and the council of ministers to continue until alternative arrangements are made. Late Sunday, the governor’s secretariat announced that his January order summoning the assembly session was declared “null and void” with immediate effect.