[Today’s Prayer] Violence in Manipur, India, escalates; 20 killed in 2 weeks

A new surge of ethno-religious violence has killed 20 people in the past two weeks in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, which has forced more than 60,000 people from their homes since violence erupted in May 2023.

According to the Christian Post (CP), recent violence between Hindu Meitei and Christian Kuki has resulted in churches being burned and children being killed. Security forces are struggling to maintain order. The conflict has displaced more than 50,000 Kuki Christians and 10,000 Meitei in Kuki-majority areas.

The latest incident took place in Jiribam, near the Assam border, and is the result of a series of revenge killings triggered by the discovery of the body of a young Kuki woman in a river. Tensions escalated dramatically when a Christian teacher and mother of three was killed and burned by Meitei tribesmen, leading to deadly clashes between armed Kuki tribesmen and security forces, in which 10 Kuki tribesmen were killed.

The situation worsened on November 16 (local time) when six Meitei people, including three children, were found dead. In response, protesters set fire to Kuki houses and six churches in Jiribam, while rioters in the state capital Imphal burned down the residences of government officials. Authorities have imposed a curfew, cut off internet access and closed schools.

“We have been praying for lasting peace and our hearts were at peace. But the recent conflict has shattered the peace that was returning to Manipur. Many people are struggling to make ends meet and the curfew has only worsened their situation,” said a church leader in the area.

Source : Christian Today

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2)

God, we hear of ethno-religious violence between the Christian Kukis and the Hindu Meiteis in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur people, are killing and hurting each other.

Children and women are among the victims, and the violence has created many refugees among both the Kukis and Meiteis, but we pray that You will have compassion on these two peoples and restore them to the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.

We lift up to You the situation of the believing Kukui churches. Although several churches have been burned, leaving them without a place to worship, let this be a time for them to experience Your presence everywhere.

Help the Kukui churches to be more like Jesus, who bore our sins on the cross and forgave us, so that we will not follow the lusts of those who hate the Meitei, but will follow your will, serving in love and forgiving first.

As the Kukis serve the Meitei with the love of Jesus, may the poor hearts of the Meitei be opened wide so that the gospel of life may be preached in them.

Also, allow the Indian Church, which You have established, to partner with the Kuki Church to help the Kuki and Meitei refugees who have been forced to flee violence and find new homes. Lord, who knows the needs of refugees, use the Indian church in the right place and open avenues for the gospel among the Meitei.

We pray that the Kukis and Meiteis will be united in the Gospel and that the Gospel will flow through India to all the nations, so that all the peoples of India will rise up in a vision of one million missionaries!