Context:

Violence has flared again in Manipur, merely three weeks after conflagrations resulted in scores of deaths and the displacement of people in Churachandpur and Imphal in particular. 

Grotesque turn:

• Protests against an order by the High Court of Manipur to seek the inclusion of the Meitei community into the State’s Scheduled Tribe list, has taken a grotesque turn, with representatives of the Kuki-Zomi community seeking a “separate administration”. 

Raising of ire of Kuki-Zomi hill dwellers:

• The government’s so-called anti-poppy cultivation drives were seen as moves against the Kuki-Zomi hill dwellers, raising their ire, while the High Court’s single judge Bench’s ill-thought-out order — as the Chief Justice of India, himself observed as being violative of a 23-year-old Constitution Bench judgment — exacerbated the situation. 

How to bring back normalcy? 

• Act Together: The State government must get its act together, with the help of the Centre, to bring back normalcy by increasing patrolling of paramilitary and police forces in riot-torn areas, providing relief to displaced people and curtailing the influence of militant sections. 
• Displaced to their homes back: A plan to allow the return of those displaced to their homes in the medium term must also be put into order with the help of the security forces. 
• Promotion of civic consciousness: Manipur, like some of the other northeastern States, needs to promote a civic consciousness among its citizens that will allow them to rise above ethnic identities to differentiate themselves. 
• Time for civil society members: With trust fraying between community leaders and State government representatives, it is incumbent upon civil society members, within and outside Manipur, to take up the cause of rebuilding inter-community ties and not letting chauvinist and militant groups hijack the role of representation.

News Source: The Hindu 

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