07/17/2023 India (International Christian Concern) – An Indian Catholic bishop raised concerns over the ongoing unrest spreading from Manipur to other areas in India. More than 100 people have already been killed amid the ethno-religious violence between the Meitei and Kuki/Naga groups.

The image below shows the location of Manipur in northeastern India. The situation in Manipur is complicated by its border with Myanmar (Burma) to the east, as fallout from the ongoing civil war there expands to India.

Various international figures, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, have called on the Indian government to restore peace and security in the region. The Communist Party of India (CPIM) and the Indian National Congress—the main opposition parties to the ruling BJP party—have criticized the alleged failure to respond to the violent unrest that broke out in Manipur in May. 

During a public address in Kerala, Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese stated, “We all know what is happening in Manipur. How meticulously things were planned to eliminate a particular section of society. A play that was scripted months ago was executed. We are afraid that if it is Manipur today, it will be Kerala tomorrow.” 

This comes as International Christian Concern (ICC) has warned of rampant persecution of Christians, indicating trends away from religious liberty in India. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urged President Biden to discuss religious liberty during the recent visit to Washington, D.C. from Indian Prime Minister Modi. ICC also previously reported on the effects of the violence in Manipur on the Christian community. 

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