Seasons change: but what remains unchanged is the spectre of violence in strife-torn Manipur. A former armyman belonging to the Kuki-Zo community was lynched in Imphal West on Sunday night after he had inadvertently crossed over into an area that has a sizeable presence of Meiteis. Manipur has also witnessed a spike in violence in some other areas with — this is worrying — Kuki insurgents using sophisticated weaponry such as drones and rockets in the course of their targeted assaults. The rupture of the tenuous, uneasy peace has, understandably, led to the renewal of public demonstrations. Thousands of students have taken to the streets protesting against the latest round of violence and demanding, among other things, for the reins of the Unified Command to be handed over to state authorities. Tellingly, the chief minister, N. Biren Singh, too, made a similar submission to the governor recently. His other demand was the revocation of the suspension of operation agreement that is in place with militant organisations. Both of Mr Singh’s demands are audacious. Given the extent of the ethnic polarisation in Manipur — State institutions are no longer immune from this vice — the granting of the reins of the Unified Command, a crucial coordinating agency between New Delhi and Manipur, to Imphal could heighten the possibility of prejudicial, retaliatory violence. Mr Singh’s belligerence, even though he has failed to douse the flames for over a year, must not be pandered to by the Centre. But is the Centre keen on resolving the situation at the earliest? The prime minister’s seeming indifference towards the crisis does not instil much confidence.

Peace cannot return to Manipur through a dis­proportionate emphasis on a securitised approach. What is needed is a consensual political resolution. But this cannot happen without involving the state’s, albeit frayed, civil society. A simultaneous political and civil initiative to bridge the trust deficit between the warring communities along with the rehabilitation of the affected people sans partisanship could be considered
as the inaugural steps towards normalcy. Parallelly, the security forces must also neutralise any attempt on the part of mischievous elements to reignite the flames. The biggest impediment to the return of peace in Manipur remains the pursuit of narrow, divisive motives. This kind of regressive agenda must be shunned immediately for the sake of peace.