Manipur: Waiting for peace in Indian state divided by violence

More than a year has passed since deadly violence broke out in Manipur state, but normalcy is a long way off.

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Clashes erupted in May last year between the majority Meitei and indigenous minority Kuki groups - they were sparked by Kuki protests against demands from Meiteis to be given official tribal status, which would make them eligible for affirmative action and other benefits.

The violence displaced tens of thousands - some 59,000 people are still living in government relief camps. It has split up neighbourhoods and torn apart bonds between communities.

Today, Manipur is divided into two camps, with Meiteis inhabiting the Imphal Valley and Kukis living in the surrounding hill areas. Borders and buffer zones guarded by security forces separate the two regions. Many locals have voluntarily taken up arms - some stolen from armed forces, some country-made - to protect their villages from intruders.

Federal and state officials have made some attempts to end the conflict by holding peace talks between the communities, but locals say it hasn’t been enough - a recent peace deal signed in a district collapsed within a day. Distrust between the two groups persists and incidents of violence, including killings of security personnel, are regularly reported.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9delg2y1ro

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