Recently (May 3) a riot broke out among the majority Hindus. Though the apparent cause was not religious, the rioters burnt down hundreds of Christian churches not only of the minority tribe, but also Christian churches of their own tribe. More than 80 people died, and tens of thousands fled to the mountains and forests. The army was sent in to keep the riot under control.      

Though the government portrayed this as an economic conflict, it was clear that Christians were being targeted. Let us pray for these suffering believers in trauma. May the Lord be with them, protect them, heal them physically and emotionally, strengthen them in their faith, and provide for them.  (6/27/2023)

For more information read the articles below:

 “It is very hard to explain the situation of our land. I believe God is protecting us and will protect. Most believers are in trauma.”  —Kuber*, an Indian Christian from the Kuki tribe

“The violence that is taking place in front of our eyes is unexplain-able. We cannot stop crying. May the LORD save His people.”  —Richard*, an Indian Christian from the Meitei people group

The obvious violence in Manipur has drawn to a close. Things seem calm. But it might be a mistake to think that peace has come to this state in the northeast of India. Open Doors partners on the ground even say this region is “on the brink of civil war.”

So why is this happening? What’s the situation currently? What is happening to Christians? And how can you pray and help?

Our Open Doors field team has spent the last two weeks talking with our local partners in Manipur, and they answered some of these vital questions:

 What happened?

On May 3, tensions between the Kuki tribe (who are majority Christian) and the majority-Hindu Meitei people in Manipur State, northeast India, escalated into violence. The community-wide rioting led to the burning of more than 200 churches and the deaths of more than 60 believers.

Tensions have been brewing between these two groups for decades. But the root of the most recent violence was Manipur’s pro-Hindu government deciding to give the Meitei people additional land and benefits, combined with the eviction of the Christian Kukis from their ancestral land. The Kuki tribe protested these actions, and the protests led to the violence. 

What is happening to Christians?

After the tribal members protested, extremists from within the Meitei ethnic group used this as an opportunity to attack churches—not only Christian churches from the Kuki tribe, but also Christian churches from among the Meitei, most of whom are coverts from Hinduism. 

More than 230 churches have been burned. Christians from both the Meitei and Kuki have left their homes and are being told to renounce their faith and accept Hinduism. Even two weeks after the burning of churches on May 3, Open Doors local partners report that one extremist group is actively searching for Christian leaders and pastors—likely to kill them.  

Many Christians from the majority-Hindu Meitei group are being forced to reconvert to Hinduism. Though some of the Kuki have returned to their tribal land, believers among the Meitei are still facing attacks.

Due to the sensitive situation, even Open Doors local partners have faced tremendous loss and are themselves seeking shelter in refugee camps. Many believers are also still hiding in hill areas and border areas.  

What’s the current situation?

It is not safe for outsiders to enter the affected areas; people who are able to are able to fly out of the area are taking refuge in the border states of Manipur.

Many people suffered loss of life and loss of property. People do not have food, shelter are still facing threats and physical violence. The internet has been shut down since May 3 and still hasn’t been restored. Access to ATMs has been cut off. Food and fuel prices are also four times higher. Food supplies and military trucks were burned, and many people have suffered from mental and physical losses. 

What does the future look like for Manipur—and for the Christians there?

Open Doors’ local partners believe things will get worse. Some say a civil war might break out. Christians in Manipur are expected to face more persecution through forced conversion, physical violence and loss of life. There is also fear that the violence will spread to surrounding states. 

How can we, as God’s people, help in this situation?

It is important that the global church speaks out, supports and prays for the Christians affected in Manipur. This is much more than an ethnic clash. Manipur is known for its large Christian population and strong church groups.

As of latest field reporting, over 230 churches have been burned, over 1,000 Christian houses and institutions have been destroyed, and over 60 people have died. More than 10,000 Christians have been moved to safer places. It might take decades for the community to re-establish itself and stand as strong as it did before the violence. 

This incident also shows how vulnerable Christians are in India; in most [of the country’s] states, Christians represent an even smaller minority. So if Christians can be targeted and attacked [like this] in a state like Manipur, how bad might their condition be in other states?
  

Stand with God's people

Open Doors local church partners responded immediately to meet urgent needs and are preparing to provide long-term support. If you feel led, your gift today could meet similar needs for Christians in India and around the world. 

How can I pray? 

“We need churches’ prayers,” says Kuber*, a Kuki believer. “Please pray for us. Pray for the situation and pray for believers here.”

Other ways you can pray:

•    Ask God to help the victims of the attacks, that He would rebuild the church in Manipur and that His people would be strengthened.
•    Pray that God would calm the hearts of Christians who may want to fight back with violence. Ask Him to reassure them that vengeance is His.
•    Pray for peace to break out—and that the presence of Christians in Manipur would be a blessing to both Hindu and Christian and would contribute to the growth of God’s people.
•    Pray for God to change the hearts of the extremists who are targeting Christians. Ask Him to reveal the truth to them and that they would somehow see the love of Jesus in this situation, and turn to Him. 

* For security reasons, names might be changed. 

On May 3, rioting erupted and spread like wildfire in Manipur. To date, 108 villages have been completely destroyed, 200+ churches have been burned down, over 80 lives have been taken (including many Christian tribal citizens) and 66,000 people—mostly Christ followers—have been displaced from their homes. Among those displaced are Rohan, his sister and his mother.

Not having any other option, Rohan and his family took shelter in a relief camp run by the Indian Army. In an attempt to flee the Christian persecution, they stayed there for a week, but then heard of a facility run by Global Christian Relief; GCR’s emergency relief center was taking in those displaced by the unrest. Rohan and his family made the journey to stay in the facility. 

Rohan has spent many nights reflecting on the chaos that has overtaken Manipur and all he had to leave behind. For Rohan, he previously had a good job, but now wonders if he’ll ever be able to return:

“I will search for a job here. I don’t know what I will do,” he says. And when asked if he would want to return to his home where the violence occurred, he answers, “Who would want to go back?”

Rohan has been in touch with friends who stayed behind in Manipur. He called one and heard this disturbing update: “The vandalized and deserted homes are all being burnt. The burning has not stopped. It is still happening—every day—even if the media does not let it get public.”

Rohan’s mother has taken the uprooting of her life especially hard. Since escaping Manipur, she has suffered seizures and had to be rushed to the hospital. “She’s been thinking … about what happened and panicked, because of which she now has seizures,” Rohan states. “She started to babble and scream, ‘Someone is chasing me, someone is chasing me,’ and then suddenly had a seizure.”

His mother has since been discharged. Through the generous gifts of our supporters, GCR has been able to come alongside Rohan and his family and cover thei r hospital bills. “I am so grateful to Global Christian Relief for standing with us at this time of need.”

Rohan has reached out to us with specific prayer requests:

First, to pray the violence in Manipur will end—that God will intercede and stop the rioting.

Second, that his mother will make a complete recovery and overcome her seizures and panic attacks.

Third, that he and his sister will be able to find work outside of Manipur.

And lastly, that God will guide all the displaced families to safety, that they will find peace with all they had to leave behind.

Please join us in praying for Rohan, his family and those countless others affected by this senseless violence in Manipur.

To help us continue to offer aid to families like Rohan’s, consider giving a gift to Global Christian Relief.

*Rohan is pictured above. His name has been changed to preserve his security.