Manipur: Dressed in traditional Manipuri saris and striking headgear, a group of women is exerting its authority on the roads of Imphal. They halt passing vehicles to conduct thorough checks, inspect the car boots and rear seats, and scrutinise the identity cards of the drivers and occupants, including their Aadhaar cards.
These are no policewomen or personnel of the armed forces, but ‘Meira Paibis’, or ‘torchbearers’ — revered figures in Meitei society who generally serve as the community’s moral compass but have taken on the role of vigilantes amid the ongoing violence in Manipur.
The security forces say the Meira Paibis hinder their movements by blocking highways and impede combing operations — even aid rioters in their escape — and block essentials meant for Kukis in the state’s Hill districts. However, within the Meitei community, they are cherished as ‘imas‘ or ‘mothers’ who will go to any extent to “protect their land and people”.
These women have prepared rosters outlining 6-7-hour daily shifts to guard their villages or patrol the roads and highways — armed with lathis and mashals.
Operating in “war time”, their drill includes searching vehicles to ensure no rations or “weapons” reach the Kukis. If they find anything, they hand over the driver to the crowd and set the vehicle on fire.
Through this series of photographs, ThePrint’s national photo editor Praveen Jain offers a glimpse into the Meira Paibis and their new role on the frontlines of the Meitei-Kuki conflict.
