Union Home Minister Amit Shah has emphasized the government’s commitment to bridging the trust deficit between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur, aiming for lasting peace after the Lok Sabha elections. In an interview with PTI, Shah stated that the ethnic clashes, which began on 3 May 2023 after a tribal solidarity march, cannot be resolved through force but through dialogue and trust-building.
“This is not an issue of riots or terrorism. This is an issue of ethnic violence. It can’t be resolved through force. This is ethnic violence,” he said when asked whether the government needed to take some strong action to end the cycle of violence in the northeastern state.
The home minister said the violence took place due to lack of discussions and lack of trust between the two communities which had happened due to some incidents.
“We have to repair this. This is a time consuming job. We were working on it speedily. But it has been delayed due to the elections. That is quite natural,” he said.
“Because leaders of both the communities are talking about the interests of the respective community, or their own political issues. But after the counting, the government will work on it with utmost priority. I believe there will be no violence in future,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army on Sunday said that they averted explosions in conflict-hit Manipur by defusing three IEDs planted on a road in Imphal East district.
A statement issued by the Army said that the IEDs were found on the road connecting Nongdam Tangkhul and Etham Tangkhul villages, near Maphou dam.
This was reportedly discovered during a routine patrol near Maphou dam.
“The Army acted swiftly and cordoned the area. Subsequently, the bomb disposal squad arrived at the location and diffused the IEDs safely, thereby preventing potential loss of life and injury to locals,” the statement said.
Electronic detonators were also found along with two IEDs, which weighed 2kg and 5 kg.
