INDIA: 50,000 people displaced and 150 killed

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced and more than 150 died after hundreds of villages and churches were burnt down since the ongoing violent conflict broke out in Manipur, northeast India in May.

A source close to Imphal Archdiocese told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that Meitei militants have destroyed a total of 290 villages and 603 churches in the last three months.

The unnamed source said: “The Catholic Church and its institutions have suffered the fury of the mob in at least 10 places.”

Buildings set on fire include St Paul’s Church and Pastoral Training Centre in Sangaiprou, Imphal – and the police was “nowhere to be seen” as the aggression was unfolding, according to the source.

He added: “All SOS calls to emergency numbers – 100 and 112 – went without any response.

“There were no security deployments, leaving the premises vulnerable for further attacks and eventual destruction.

“Today, after everything has been destroyed, there is 24-hour deployment of police personnel.”

He said that mobs also looted and vandalised other buildings owned by the Church, including St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School in Sangaiprou.

ACN’s source highlighted that the deadly conflict has complex causes, including ethnic tensions between the predominantly Hindu Meitei and Christian-majority Kuki tribes.

He explained that the tensions resulted from disputes over land ownership and various agricultural activities, among other factors.

ACN continues to monitor the situation and is in touch with Church authorities to find ways to provide emergency aid to help alleviate the suffering.