Manipur is under the grip of several month-long ethnic strife. A defence spokesperson said that Kalita is on a four-day visit to the North-Eastern states. During the visit, GOC-IN-C reached Manipur and interacted with th Governor of Manipur, Anusuiya Uikey and Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
GOC-in-C was accompanied by GOC, Spear Corps.During the meeting GOC-in-C discussed the current security scenario in the state of Manipur and further various aspects related to strengthening cooperation and ensuring security for the people of Manipur were discussed.
On November 21, Kalita said that there have been traditional legacy issues between communities in Manipur, now both communities are completely polarised, more 4000 looted weapons are still in the hands of people, so they are being used and sporadic incidents continue. There has to be political resolution to this conflict.
Kalita said, “Our aim initially in Manipur was to carry out rescue and relief operations for the people who have been displaced from their houses. We have been trying to contain the violence, largely we have been successful but because of the polarisation between the Kukis and Meiteis some sporadic incidents do keep on taking place.”
He added, “On Monday two people were killed including an IRB personnel. Our effort has been to contain the violence and motivate both sides of the conflict to come for peaceful resolution of the political conflict. Ultimately there must be political resolution to this conflict.”Kalita said, “There is some legacy with three communities which live in Manipur. Earlier also there was conflict between Kukis and Nagas in the 90s and almost 1000 people were killed. What has happened now is both the communities are completely polarised though the level of violence has come down. More than 5000 weapons were taken away from police stations out of which 1500 were recovered and around 4000 weapons are still out and till the time these weapons are still out this sort of sporadic incidents will continue.” Manipur has witnessed repeated arms loot from the armoury. Unprecedented ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, following a tribal solidarity rally that turned violent in Churachandpur district, leading to retaliatory violence between Chin-Kuki-Zo and the Meitei communities across the state.
Manipur police has stated that as many as 175 people were killed, 1,108 others injured while 32 are missing in the ongoing ethnic strife which started on May 3.
