Bird’s eye view

Sir — Research has shown that crows can hold a grudge for up to 17 years. Unfortunately, their eyesight does not serve them as well as their memory. In the United States of America, for instance, people claim to have been attacked by crows despite having done nothing to provoke them. Apparently, crows identify wrongdoers by the colour of their hair and often cannot distinguish between people with similar coloured hair. This explains why there exist little to no reports of Indians getting arbitrarily attacked by crows — since most people have dark hair, crows must have given up on spotting their enemies.

Disha Roy,
Calcutta

Dire state

Sir — The renewal and the escalation of violence in Manipur are matters of grave concern (“AFSPA net widens in Manipur”, Nov 14). Ever since Manipur attained statehood in 1972, contestations over indigeneity, land rights, and resource allocation have dogged the state and its three main communities, the Kukis, the Meiteis and the Nagas. Instead of addressing their legitimate concerns, the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state has refused to engage with them in a meaningful way.

M. Jeyaram,
Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu

Sir — The situation in Manipur remains volatile. Recently, six Meitei individuals, including children, have disappeared from the state. Urgent action is needed to locate the missing, ensure their safety and address the root causes of the conflict. A comprehensive approach involving dialogue, impartial investigations, and security measures is essential to restore peace and stability in the region. International support can play a crucial role in soothing frayed tempers.

Sreshaja J.R.,
Kannur, Kerala

Sir — The Union government cannot remain mum on the ongoing fratricidal conflict between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zos of Manipur which has dragged on for over a year and a half now.

Aranya Sanyal,
Siliguri

Sir — The fresh escalation of violence in Manipur has belied all claims by the Central and the state governments of the situation in the state having returned to normal. Ironically, the prime minister has been advocating peace to warring nations like Russia while ignoring Manipur, which has strategic importance for India as it borders Bangladesh and Myanmar. The ongoing crisis in that state, if left unresolved, can pose a threat to national security.

Gregory Fernandes,
Mumbai

Sir — Manipur should be put under president’s rule. The Central Reserve Police Force, which has been deployed in Manipur since the outbreak of the conflict in May last year, has been unable to handle the crisis. The Congress has rightly blamed the Centre and the state government for failing to curb the violence that has claimed many lives and displaced thousands.

Fakhrul Alam,
Calcutta

Sir — Recent atrocities against women in Manipur — a woman was raped, tortured and set on fire — have shaken the conscience of everyone except the politicians in power. The state administration has not been able to restore law and order even though over a year has elapsed since clashes broke out. This is despite having resources and troops at its command.

Gurnoo Grewal,
Chandigarh

Sir — The Centre has imposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in new areas of Manipur amid the ongoing crisis. In 2016, the Supreme Court had rightly observed that an indefinite deployment of armed forces in the name of restoring peace “would mock at our democratic process”. The AFSPA empowers security personnel to act with impunity. The army needs to exercise restraint in its operations.

S.S. Paul,
Nadia