1993 Pangal massacre

The 1993 Pangal massacre refers to the massacre in Pangal, an indigenous Muslim community in Manipur, India, by the Meitei people, who are the majority ethnic group of Manipur and are largely Hindu, on 3 May 1993.[1][2][3]

1993 Pangal massacre
Part of Religious violence in India
Location of Manipur in India
Date3 May 1993
Location
Manipur, India
MethodsKilling, Arson
Parties to the civil conflict
90 to 130 people were killed in the incident
Part of a series on
Violence against
Muslims in India
Incidents
Related topics

Background

The North-Eastern region of India has not seen religious violence between Hindus and Muslims, which are relatively more in Northern India. Although, there has been some land disputes and fear of Bengali Muslim influx.[4] The Pangal community settled in the region in the 17th century. Their name could either be strength in Meiteilon or the way Meiteilon pronounce Bangal referring to Bengali people.[5]

Incident

There are conflicting accounts of what started the violence, one account says Hindu separatists tried to buy arms from a Muslim arms smuggler and were rebuffed. Another account says that the Hindu rebels were trying to extort from a Muslim village who resisted and killed one of the rebel.[4] The violence started on 3 May 1993 and continued will into the 5th May. Bus containing Muslims passengers were set on fire and clashes took places between Pangal and Meitei.[6] People were killed in the roads; homes and shops were burned down.[7] An estimated 90 to 130 people were killed.[8][7] The State Government worked with the tribes of Manipur to restore peace in the State following the riots.[9]

Legacy

According to the official Indian Government Commission, about a 100 people died in the riots. The commission called for increased security and increasing the compensation award to the victims.[10] The Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) Political Forum claimed 140 people were killed. Following the Government of India awarded compensation to the victims of the 1984 Punjab riots, the Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) Political Forum demanded compensation from the government in January 2015 at the Manipur Press Club.[11]

The Day, 3 May 1993, is marked as a black day/Sahidee Memorial Day by the Pangals. Following the massacre the Pangals formed a number of armed militias.[1] The day is observed by All Manipur Muslim Students’ Organization, Pangal (Manipur Muslim) Political Forum, and All Manipur Muslim Girl Students’ Organization.[12] Scroll India referred to the incident as the "First Major rupture" in communal relations in the Manipur State.[7]

References
  1. "Manipur at a Glance An Ethnics Dilemma Part 2 By Khulakfam Altab Ali". e-pao.net. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  2. "How mob justice in Manipur was given a communal tone". Rediff. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  3. Datta-Ray, B. (2006). The Journal of the North-East India Council for Social Science Research. B. D. Ray. p. 76. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  4. "HINDU-MUSLIM RIOTS KILL MORE THAN 100 IN INDIA". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. New York Times News Service. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  5. "The Troll Army Strikes at the Manipuri Pangal Community". NewsClick. nc. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  6. Ahmed, Farzand (31 May 1993). "Naga-Kuki clash: Communal riots rouse temperatures in Manipur". India Today. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  7. Mander, Harsh. "Lynching of young Muslim entrepreneur in Manipur last year shows such acts are carefully planned". Scroll.in. Scroll India. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  8. Dutta, Anuradha; Bhuyan, Ratna (2008). Women and Peace: Chapters from Northeast India. Akansha Publishing House. p. 78. ISBN 9788183701266. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  9. Das, Samir Kumar (2008). Blisters on their Feet: Tales of Internally Displaced Persons in India's North East. SAGE Publications India. p. 208. ISBN 9788132100195. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  10. "Report of working group of national integration council to study reports of the commissions of inquiry on communal riots" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  11. Press, Imphal Free. "Muslim body seeks compensation for 1993 Meitei-Meitei Pangal riot victims". Kangla Online. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  12. "Muslims offer prayers for those killed in the 1993 riot in Manipur". TwoCircles.net. Retrieved 1 September 2019.

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