Manipur pushed back 20 years by prolonged crisis: Home minister

IMPHAL, OCT 16: Manipur has been pushed back by 20 years by the prolonged crisis, Manipur home minister Govindas Konthoujam said on Friday, calling on all communities to resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiation.
The state has been witnessing violence since the Meitei-Kuki conflict erupted on May 3, 2023, with tensions now extending to a Naga-Kuki conflict that emerged in February this year.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Imphal, Konthoujam said negotiation was the only way to end the crisis and prevent further devastation.
“Peace is brought only through negotiations. There was no clash that was resolved through the barrel of the gun,” he said, urging people across communities, irrespective of caste or religion, to come to the negotiating table and reach a mutual understanding.
The home minister questioned the extent to which security measures alone could resolve the crisis, stressing that lasting peace required rebuilding trust among communities.
“Except sorting out the differences through dialogue, what can security do?” he asked, adding that security forces could contain violence to some extent in the valley but faced greater operational challenges in the hills because of communication difficulties and the terrain.
Konthoujam said improved mobile connectivity had complicated security operations, as armed miscreants could obtain advance information about the movement of security personnel and flee before they arrived. They could also move their weapons to safer locations, making arrests and recovery of arms difficult.
He said the state home department was continuously monitoring law and order developments, including the movement of armed miscreants and the possession of weapons by villagers. However, he acknowledged that practical difficulties, particularly in the hill areas, continued to hamper operations.
The minister said the state government was not a silent spectator and was discussing ways to address the challenges effectively.
He reiterated that communities needed to engage in dialogue and gradually bridge the trust deficit, saying security measures alone could not restore lasting peace.
Konthoujam said bringing community leaders and representatives together for talks should not be difficult, given the shared bonds among the people of Manipur.
He added that the government was engaging community leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, with discussions already held as part of efforts to resolve differences and restore peace.