In Manipur, two years of ethnic violence started between Maetai and Cookie communities on May 3, 2023 are going to be completed in the next few days. But still peace has not been established in the state and the period of violence is still going on. Hundreds of people have lost their lives, thousands have been injured. At the same time, a very large population has to struggle to live their livelihood, they have been displaced in their own state and they have to leave their homes and stay in relief camps.
Since the onset of ethnic violence, what has changed in Manipur in these two years, to find an answer to the question, Aaj Tak reached the areas of Manipur, affected by violence, where the people of Maetai and Kuki community live. Aaj Tak tried to find out on the ground zero and tried to find out how the current situation in the state, how Maetai and Cookie community are dealing with each other, what is being done by security forces to normalize the situation in the state and what else can happen in the coming days.
The gap between Cookie and Maetai is very deep
Talking to the local people in Manipur, it was found that even after two years of the onset of ethnic violence, the gap between Metai and Cookie communities is very deep. Cookie people live in the mountains of Manipur, while the valley and especially the capital Imphal areas dominate the Maetai community. Aaj Tak reached the buffer zone between the two districts of Churachandpur and Bishnupur. Please tell that Churachandpur Kuki is a majority district, while Bishnupur Maetai is a majority. A large number of security forces have been deployed in the buffer zone.
The Indian Army, BSF, Assam Rifles, CRPF jawans are holding the front in the buffer zone and are making sure that there is no violence in the area. The Government of India has opened all the buffer zone area in Manipur for a free movement a few days ago. The purpose behind this is to ensure that the cookies and people of the Maetai community can come to each other without any restriction. Because, Manipur has been divided into two parts since the violence begins, cookies avoid moving to areas where Maetai has an impact and Maetai avoids moving to areas where cookie effects.
Free movement has no significant impact in Manipur
But the free movement does not show any significant effect on the ground. In Manipur, Cookie and Maetai are still reluctant to visit each other’s areas. He is afraid of his life. People of both communities are banned to enter each other’s area. This ban was not imposed by the security forces, but both communities have implemented it themselves. This was the reason that when a delegation of 6 judges of the Supreme Court came on a Manipur tour, Justice N. Kotiswar Singh could not go to Churachandpur district.
Because Justice N. Kotiswar Singh comes from the Metai community and Churachandpur is a cookie -dominated district. The Churachandpur Bar Association had issued a statement saying, ‘In the interest of peace and public system, the judge of the Metai community should not step into our district. Even if his name is included in the delegation of Supreme Court judges. The gap between Cookie and Maetai has deepened to such an extent that it is affecting the security forces and bureaucrats engaged in peace restoration in the state.
Manipur police and officers handling the state administration have also been divided into cookie and maetai. The same officers of the state police and administration have been deployed in the cookie areas, who come from this community. The same situation is also in Maetai areas. The situation is such that the government has to divide between these two communities to maintain peace in the state. The question arises how a permanent solution to this crisis will be found. Will Maetai and Cookie ever embrace each other in Manipur and together will ensure peace restoration in the state?
