SUMMARY
The demand for the formation of an Islamic state in northeast India stems from the perceived marginalisation and lack of political influence of the Muslim community in Manipur. Such concerns were further aggravated by ethnic riots targeting Muslims in 1993, which led to the formation of self-defence groups. Among these were PULF (Peoples United Liberation Front), which launched a low-level struggle that escalated into an armed conflict in 2008. Only few incidents have been recorded in later years and they did not reach the UCDPs threshold for an armed conflict. No negotiations have been reported.
IN DEPTH
Muslim marginalisation and the Peoples United Liberation Front
Indias Northeast - also referred to as the Seven Sisters, after the seven states that comprise the region - has since independence been a patchwork of ethnic, linguistic and religious groups. These relatively small and sparsely populated (by Indian standards) states have experienced a turbulent history, stoked by ethnic tensions, insurgencies and waves of immigration from the rest of India and Bangladesh. Whilst the bulk of armed conflicts that have taken place in this region have featured tribal groups fighting the government to establish ethnically delineated independent or semi-independent states, the issues of immigration and Muslim minority rights have also been salient political topics. In most states in the Northeast the issue of immigration - be it by Muslims from Bangladesh or by non-tribals or Muslims from other states in India - has aroused feelings of being colonised and overrun by settlers. Violence against such immigrants has been commonplace in the internal conflicts in these states.
Whilst some states in the Northeast have large Muslim populations (inflated by Bengali refugees during the 1970s), the state of Manipur has a Muslim minority of only approximately 8%, with the state being dominated by Christians and Hindus, and ethnically by Manipuri tribal groups and the Meitei. The Muslim minority, with those of Manipuri origin being known as the Meitei Pangal, has not enjoyed any considerable political influence. The Pangal have also found themselves embroiled in Manipurs secessionist struggle, which was fought along ethnic and tribal lines.
The strengthening of tribal identities in Manipur, and the prevalent feelings of being overrun by Muslim settlers, stoked ethnic and religious tensions, which boiled over into ethnic riots in 1993. An altercation over the payment of a business transaction at Lilong Bazaar in May the same year led to ethnic clashes throughout Manipurs Thoubal and Imphal districts in which approximately 150 Pangals were killed. In reaction the Pangal community formed several self-defence groups to protect themselves, with PULF (Peoples United Liberation Front) being one of them.
In addition to wanting to protect the Muslim community in Manipur and the entirety of the Northeast, PULF (and other, smaller groups) have stated their wish to create an Islamic State in the Northeast. The incompatibility is thus a territorial one, coupled with a wish for minority protection. The group has also been active in promoting Islamic values, such as the prohibition of drugs and alcohol, and the wearing of Islamic dress. The group was formed under the leadership of Bashir Laskar, also known as Muthi, who was killed in 2006.
The group has always been relatively small, numbering maybe 100-150 cadres in the first year that it became active (2008). Members have mainly been recruited amongst Manipurs small Muslim minority, but in later years also from Assams more numerous population of Muslims. The group was known to have accrued funds through arms smuggling and extortion throughout Assam and Manipur. In terms of linkages to other rebel outfits it is known that the NSCN – IM (National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isak Muivah faction) has in the past supplied the group with weapons and training.
Very little is known about the groups activities during the first ten years of its existence. The group was listed as a threat to the Indian state for the first time in 1999, when Manipur officials identified it as one of many "active" rebel outfits in Manipur. In the same year a number of PULF cadres were arrested and charged with murder, clearly showing that it was making use of violence. These murders are thought to have taken place within the context of PULFs extortion activities. The first recorded attacks on government targets came in 2004 and continued in the years that followed. Conflict activity was, however, not intense enough to reach the 25 battle-related deaths threshold until 2008, when the government conducted a series of counter-insurgency sweeps against PULF, with the rebels suffering significant losses.
In 2007 PULF had absorbed the smaller INF (Islamic National Front), inflating its ranks. Subsequently, conflict activity increased and crossed the 25 battle-related deaths threshold in late 2008. This increase in activity was, however, not a result of any great successes on the part of PULF; instead, a number of counter-insurgency sweeps throughout the year lead to significant losses in the ranks of the group. These sweeps were carried out mainly in the Imphal and Thoubal districts of Manipur. Only few incidents have been recorded in later years and they do not reach the UCDPs threshold for an armed conflict. No negotiations have been reported.
