Manipur state teeters on brink of East Timor or South Sudan-like crisis
New Delhi: Manipur’s escalating ethnic violence is plunging the state into a dire situation, drawing parallels with East Timor and South Sudan, as it struggles with deepening divisions and unrelenting bloodshed.
According to Kashmir Media Service, amid the chaos, the state government has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and universities.
The unrest intensified following the discovery of the bodies of five family members, including two children, over the weekend. Their deaths have further inflamed tensions between ethnic communities, leading to the imposition of curfews in Imphal West and Imphal East districts and the suspension of Internet services in seven districts.
The victims were abducted from a relief camp in Jiribam’s Borobekra area on November 11. Their highly decomposed bodies were recovered from the Jiri River in Jiribam and the Barak River in Assam’s Cachar district.
Ethnic violence in Manipur has reached alarming levels, with even previously calm areas like Jiribam now experiencing unrest. The district, known for its ethnic diversity, had largely escaped earlier clashes until tensions erupted in June following the discovery of a mutilated farmer’s body.
The state capital, Imphal, has witnessed heavy security deployment, especially around Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s residence and the Raj Bhavan. Vehicle movement has been severely restricted in affected areas to prevent further escalation.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi launched a scathing critique of the BJP-led Indian government, particularly targeting Home Minister Amit Shah, over its handling of the Manipur crisis.
The prolonged ethnic violence in Manipur has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced tens of thousands, plunging the state into turmoil. The deep-seated divisions between communities, coupled with the government’s perceived inaction, have exacerbated the crisis.
