Jharkhand

• 27 May 2024

Attack on Jharkhand Labourers in Manipur

Why in News?

Laborers from Jharkhand who had migrated to conflict-affected Manipur earlier in 2024, in search of improved opportunities, are now coming back in large numbers following the fatal shooting of one individual and the injury of two others by armed criminals in Imphal.

Key Points

• This marks the first instance of an attack on individuals from outside Manipur since the start of the state's ethnic conflict.
• Such acts of violence against non-locals have contributed to the Union government's decision to repeatedly extend the ban on seven Meitei extremist groups in the state.
  • The longstanding ethnic conflict in Manipur involves the Meitei majority and the Kuki-Zo Scheduled Tribe community.
  • Over 225 casualties have been recorded, with thousands injured and tens of thousands internally displaced as a result.
• An uptick in incidents like abductions and assaults on civilians is attributed to radical outfits such as Arambai Tenggol and members of valley-based insurgent groups like United National Liberation Front (UNLF), due to the large number of missing weapons in the State.
• Tensions between the two communities persist, leading to occasional attacks near the buffer zones separating the hill and valley districts.

Meitei Community

• The Meitei people are also known as Manipuri people.
  • Their primary language is the Meitei language, which is also called Manipuri and is the only official language of Manipur.
• They are predominantly settled in the Imphal Valley, although a significant number reside in other Indian states, such as Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
  • There is also a notable presence of Meitei in the neighboring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
• The Meitei people are divided into clans, and members of the same clan do not intermarry.

Cyclone Remal

Why in News?

The deep depression brewing in the Bay of Bengal has escalated into Cyclone “Remal,” posing a potential threat to West Bengal and neighboring states, including Jharkhand.

Key Points

• Meteorologists from the Ranchi-based India Meteorological Department (IMD) anticipate significant effects in the affected regions.
  • The IMD predicts thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds across several parts of the state from 26^th May to 31^st May 2024.
  • These weather conditions are expected to affect various districts, including Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Bokaro, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Simdega, and more.
• The name 'Remal' in the list of tropical cyclones is given by Oman. It will be the first cyclone to hit the region this 2024 pre-monsoon season.
  • 'Remal,' meaning 'sand' in Arabic.