Manipur, India: Ruling tribe launches pogrom against Bnei Menashe’s Jews

Manipur’s Meitei tribe has launched a violent pogrom against members of the Bnei Menashe, an ethnic tribal group that identifies as Jewish.

The Bnei Menashe (“Children of Manasseh”) are said to descend from the biblical tribe of Manasseh son of Jacob. Its 10,000 members, spread across Manipur’s Kuki, Chin and Mizo tribes, count themselves as part of the Jewish nation and observe Jewish laws and customs. The Bnei Menashe have built themselves several synagogues and a mikveh (ritual bath) — a staple of any Jewish community — in Manipur. 

But the mikveh and at least one local synagogue in Manipur’s capital of Imphal have now been set aflame. The Meitei, the predominant ethnic tribe in Northeastern India, which makes up about 50% of the Manipuri population, has been petitioning the Indian government to grant it “Scheduled Tribe” status. Scheduled Tribes like the Kuki-Chin-Mizo have been historically at a socioeconomic disadvantage and are therefore granted access to health, education and employment benefits. They are also granted tribal lands coveted by the Meitei.

But the Scheduled Tribes are opposing the Meitei’s move out of concern that the Meitei’s large numbers would put the other tribes at a disadvantage when accessing government benefits. In a large rally Tuesday organized by All Tribal Students Union of Manipur, thousands of Scheduled Tribe members protested against the Meitei’s petition.

Skirmishes broke out which escalated into violent clashes between the Meitei and the Kuki-Chin-Mizo, Scheduled Tribes which contain members of the Bnei Menashe. Fifty-five people have been killed so far, according to CNN, with 260 hospitalized. One of those was Yoel Beita, a member of Bnei Menashe and father of four, who was killed by Meitei gunfire.

Sources tell Frontline News that the Metei have taken 3,000 hostages from among the Kuki-Chin-Mizo and Bnei Menashe, while the Kuki-Chin-Mizo have taken about 6,000 Meitei hostages.

The Meitei are especially targeting the Bnei Menashe community, burning down the homes and cars of some 120 families around Imphal and the Bnei Menashe village of Beit Shalom. Meitei members have raided synagogues and burned the Torah scrolls inside before setting fire to the synagogues themselves.

Throughout this century, several hundred members of Bnei Menashe have migrated to Israel, often settling in Judea and Samaria. Esther Thangjom Schomberg, a member of the Bnei Menashe who now lives in the Judean town of Efrat, says her relatives back home are in peril.

“My cousin, who was working as a very important official in the Indian government and retired, had to run out of his home and find shelter somewhere else,” says Esther. Another relative living in Imphal was also forced to flee after receiving a death threat.

“They were getting a message from the Meiteis that ‘you all have until this hour to leave the place, otherwise we’re all going to come and burn down and vandalize it’. They all left.”

At least 10 members of the Bnei Menashe have fled to the forests.

Organizations like Shavei Israel, which is dedicated to finding and supporting “hidden” and displaced descendents of Jews throughout the world, is keeping track of the violent riots in Manipur and their impact on the Bnei Menashe.

“There is complete anarchy in this place," said Shavei Israel’s Bnei Menashe Community Coordinator Tzvi Khaute, according to Ynet News.

"The Bnei Menashe fled and are afraid to return to their neighborhood. The Indian authorities sent military forces to restore order," Khaute said. "The problem is that the Bnei Menashe are between a rock and a hard place. The state of Manipur is under the control of the Meitei tribe, who say that the Bnei Menashe belong to Israel. 'This is not your place, go to Israel,' they say. I beg the State of Israel to take responsibility and get them out as soon as possible. Their lives are in danger."

Manipur’s government has sent military forces to quell the riots with “shoot-on-sight” orders. A five-day mobile internet blackout has been implemented, which the Indian government is wont to do during civil unrest.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reportedly in contact with relevant Indian authorities regarding the welfare of the Bnei Menashe community.