Monday, December 19, 2016

The crisis in Manipur.

Preamble.

1. Manipur is a small state in north east India with a population of over 25 lakhs but the differences between the people living in the valley and the hills is so huge that not a year passes without 'bandhs' and other protests over several disagreements. The Imphal valley is predominantly inhabited by the Meiteis and the hills are predominantly inhabited by the Nagas and the Kukis!

The Run up to the Present Wave of Protests.

2. The violence or the wave of protests is actually the culmination of many events, disagreements and displeasure between the Government of Manipur(Dominated by the majority community, Meiteis) and the Nagas(Minority).

3. It unfolded with the decision of the Manipur Government to create two new districts Sadar Hills and Jiribam, without consulting all the stakeholders. The United Naga Council(UNC), the apex civil organisation of the Nagas in Manipur, objected to it and called for an indefinite economic blockade along two national highways, that are the lifelines of the state, from 01 Nov and continues to this date!

The Current Situation.

4. The state continues to be in turmoil with the latest set of provocations from either side:-

    (a) Meitei protesters waylaid and attacked hundreds of Naga civilians travelling to their villages
         for Christmas celebrations, on Sunday, injuring dozens of innocent commuters and setting
         ablaze several vehicles.
    (b) It was held against the killing of three policemen by unknown people, last Thursday.
    (c) The Manipur Government holds the NSCN-IM(Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim-
          Isak Muivah) insurgent group responsible which had concluded a peace pact with the Narendra
          Modi government, last year).
    (d) But no group has claimed responsibility, thus far.



Tailpiece.

Another instance of brothers fighting brothers. Can't the bitterness be removed?

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