Ethnic Divides and the Security Dilemma: The Armed Forces in Manipur

The political landscape of Manipur is characterized by complex relationships between its ethnic groups and the various armed forces stationed in the region. This paper explores the deep-rooted mistrust between the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities toward security forces such as the Manipur police, and the Indian armed forces. Meitei community express distrust toward the Assam Rifles, perceiving them as sympathetic to Kuki interests, while Kuki community similarly mistrust the Manipur police, seeing them as aligned with the Meitei majority. The Naga community, meanwhile, have sought the presence of Indian armed forces in the Manipur hills to protect themselves from Kuki insurgencies, particularly along the IT Road, where security camps have been established in Naga villages, but not in Kuki settlements.

Drawing on ethnographic data from conflict zones in Manipur, this paper examines the politics of security, the conflicting demands for protection, and experiences of militarization. The current attitudes toward state and non-state actors dates back to the militarisation of the 1960s and continues through the insurgencies and ceasefires of the late 1990s until today. By analysing these dynamics, the paper highlights the pragmatic yet contentious relationship between local communities and security forces, where trust and distrust coexist in an environment of ongoing political strife.