India (MNN) — Ethnic violence continues to smolder in India’s Manipur State between the Meitei and Kuki people.
“It has now been almost 17 months that we have seen this violence between the militant Meiteis, who are predominantly Hindus, against the tribal [Kuki people] of the state of Manipur. The tribal [people] are predominantly Christian,” says John Pudaite with Bibles For The World.
“This has been going on since May 3, 2023 almost non-stop, but it has really escalated in the last three weeks.”
The escalation came from a report (proved to be false) which said that 900 trained Kuki fighters might be crossing over the border from Myanmar. Although false, the report did its damage. It stirred up fears and led Meitei forces to attack.
“Fortunately, in and around that September 28 date, there was only one front in which there were attacks. That was the western front near the border town of Jiribam, which is on the Assam border,” Pudaite says.
Hospital in Manipur State (Photo courtesy of Bibles For The World)
The government-controlled army was able to stop those attacks, but there was significant mortar shelling of the tribal villages.
“There really is a peacekeeping force just trying to keep some of these buffer zones and front lines peaceful,” Pudaite says.
According to Pudaite, the war has dominated peoples’ attentions. It’s been difficult to get momentum going in ministry. Supply chains have been broken, making relief a challenge to distribute, and Bible For The World’s seminary enrollment has dropped drastically. Not so for the hospital, though.
“Our hospital has been busy non-stop during this time as we’ve been treating the internally displaced people who are in about 105 relief camps within 20 miles of our hospital,” Pudaite says.
The best response is to pray. There are Christians on both sides.
Pudaite says about the tribal Kukis, “They have been living in these villages, in these hill areas for hundreds of years, and now they’re being called outsiders, intruders, illegal immigrants and [others are] using that as a reason to drive us out of the area. So we need to pray for them.
“We have village volunteers on the front line who are defending their villages and their land, and we need to pray for strength for them.”
Pray for supernatural unity and a resolution to this clash between Kukis and Meiteis.
Header photo of Bibles For The World hospital in Manipur State courtesy of Bibles For The World.
