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Manipur: Meitei and Kuki groups demand Centre’s intervention on escalating unrest in the state

In the wake of recent cases of violence, Meitei and Kuki groups want the Centre to intervene to stop violence. They are of the view that the state government is not making notable efforts to solve the problem.

- Manipur - UPDATED: January 23, 2024, 06:59 PM - 2 min read

Meitei and Kuki groups want Centre's intervention.

Manipur: Meitei and Kuki groups demand Centre’s intervention on escalating unrest in the state

A scene from violence-prone Manipur.

Ethnic clashes reported from Manipur since May 2023, still continue to rear its ugly head. Over 200 fatalities have been reported from the state. Meitei and Kuki — two communities between whom the clashes took place have sought help from the Central government, so that violence can be stopped. Both the communities have strengthened their resolve in asking the Centre to intervene.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who started the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur, recently claimed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi could have solved the Manipur issue had he tried to resolve it.

In the recent violence reported from the state, seven people, which included two policemen, have been killed and several others have been injured. Places such as Tengnoupal, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Imphal West districts have been worst affected. In the wake of the incident, a team from the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of Meitei groups, met chief minister of the state N Biren Singh and clarified that they would take steps against those who are inflicting harm on the locals.

The umbrella body of the Meitei group lodged complaints with the chief minister and asked him to take actions against the violence. The coordinator of COCOMI Jeetendra Ningomba had claimed that the people from the Meitei group are being targeted by the terrorists of Chin-Kuki group.

“We have asked the CM to explain the ground situation to the central government so that it takes steps to end this violence. If they fail to do so, we will be forced to raise our voice or launch an agitation,” added Ningomba.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), which is a known Kuki group, on the other hand, has blamed the state government for supporting the Meiteis. It has also issued a warning that if their people would be attacked then those responsible will have to bear the repercussions.

Both the ethnic groups want the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre to take note of the situation in Manipur and intervene to stop the clashes from escalating further.