Source: Mission Network News, May 17, 2023
In Manipur, India, more than 2,500 homes of tribal Christians are now just frames and ashes. Meitei Hindus in northeast India began attacking tribal Christians two weeks ago in a horrific campaign of violence.
So far, at least 68 people have been killed and over 25,000 displaced—forced to flee while their houses and churches burned.
With different messages coming from various media outlets, people are asking, is this an ethnic cleansing? Or a religious cleansing?
A ministry worker with A3 (formerly Asian Access) says, “Personally, I feel it’s both. So it’s part of ethnic cleansing, but also it’s part of the Hindu fanatics propagating their religious views because Christians are considered to be one of the greatest enemies and they will try to destroy the strongholds of Christianity. If it’s ethnic cleansing only, why do they have to burn 121 churches? To me, I think it’s more like two sides of the same coin.”
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For more background on this conflict check out Indian Troops Ordered to “Shoot on Sight” amid Violence in Manipur (The Guardian) as well as a roundup from the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin.