The national representative organization of the Catholic community in India, known as the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, has expressed sorrow and shock at the “persecution of Christians” in Manipur.
The Christian body was “deeply saddened and shocked to note the resurgence of persecution of Christians in the peace-loving state of Manipur, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, the president of the CBCI said in a statement on Saturday.
“Three Churches and a number of houses have been set on fire and a number of people have been forced to flee,” the CBCI said.
Hindutva ecosystem have characterized the violence as a conflict between Hindus and Christians. However, student activists, especially those from tribal groups, have emphasized that the conflict is not based on religion but rather ethnicity, specifically between the Meiteis and the hill tribes.
Archbishop Thazhath said: “The Catholic Church is very much concerned for the people of Manipur, irrespective of which tribe or community they belong to.”
At least 52 people have been killed in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities on May 3.
The governments of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand have been rushing to get their residents out of Manipur as soon as possible as violence continues to engulf the state. Most of the states have arranged special flights to get the residents, who are mostly students, out.
