Manipur needs a political solution

The rapid escalation of violence in Manipur is shocking on two counts — one because it appears to have caught local authorities completely unawares, and second, because of the sophisticated weaponry, including drones, being used by groups, which indicates that attempts by the security forces and the government to recover looted weapons has not succeeded. The fresh wave of clashes — which has killed at least ten people since September 6 — now threatens to besiege the beleaguered state and rupture the fragile peace that held for close to three months. Worse, six of the ten victims hailed from Jiribam, a district that is home to Meiteis, Kukis, Bengalis, Nepalis, Nagas, and other communities and one that remained largely peaceful despite the state being roiled in clashes. Clearly, the fact that ethnic fault lines have not been bridged for close to 16 months — a clash that once pitted Meiteis and Kukis against each other now seems to engulf almost the entire state — should put the local administration in the dock. Instead, the Manipur government and chief minister (CM) N Biren Singh have made a push for the security apparatus to be brought under the state’s control. Singh and several lawmakers, including members of the cabinet and the speaker, made the demand in a memorandum to governor Laxman Prasad Acharya.