1,000 Pangal students unable to attend school amid ethnic tensions in Manipur

Approximately 1,000 Pangal (Muslim) students living in Meitei-majority areas of Manipur's Thoubal district have been unable to attend schools for the last 16 days. According to a report by Hindustan Times, this situation has arisen due to tensions between Khangabok village of the Meitei community and Sangaiyumpham village of the Pangal community. Relations between the two villages deteriorated following the death of an individual on October 18.

The incident began on October 18 when stone-pelting occurred during a musical programme in a field separating the two villages. During this clash, Rakesh Laishram, a resident of Khangabok, was killed, followed by incidents of arson. After this violence, people from both communities retreated to their respective areas. The administration has recovered licensed weapons from the villagers, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed to keep the situation under control.

Ataur Rehman, convener of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) representing the Pangal community of approximately 25,000 people in Sangaiyumpham, stated that fear has increased to such an extent that Pangal students from other areas have also stopped attending classes. He mentioned that nearly 1,000 students from primary to high school have not attended school since October 18, including 700 children from Sangaiyumpham village alone. No online class arrangements have been made for these students.

According to Rehman, there are nine schools in Khangabok where children of all communities study, but currently, no one is entering each other's village. He has appealed to the government to restore normalcy so that children can resume their studies. On the other hand, Thokchom Kiran, co-convener of the Khangabok JAC, clarified that the people of his village have not stopped the Pangal children, but due to the tension, children and adults are staying away on their own.

Both villages have formed their own separate Joint Action Committees (JACs) and their demands differ. The Khangabok JAC is demanding justice and the identification of the killer. Kiran stated that the residents of Sangaiyumpham have neither apologised nor handed over the person who shot Laishram, therefore a peace meeting could not be held. He added that Laishram was a local sports star and mourning will be observed in the village until November 6, after which further steps will be taken.

Meanwhile, the Sangaiyumpham JAC is demanding compensation for the destruction of property and arson incidents. They claim that the killer is not from their village. Representatives of both JACs have met Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and the state Home Minister. Despite the Chief Minister visiting both villages on October 28, a peace meeting has not yet been organised. A response was sought from the Chief Minister's office by Hindustan Times, but no reply was received.

Most of the schools for the Sangaiyumpham area are located in Meitei-majority areas. There are only two schools in the Pangal village, including one middle school. Officials stated that no Meitei students study in the Pangal area. Currently, this tension between the Meitei and Pangal is limited only to Khangabok and Sangaiyumpham villages.

Approximately 350 people have died and around 60,000 people have been displaced in the ethnic violence that has been ongoing in Manipur for the last three years.