There has to be political resolution to the Manipur conflict: Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita
Kalita on Tuesday said that there have been traditional legacy issues between communities in Manipur, now both communities are completely polarised, more than 4000 looted weapons are still in the hands of people, so they are being used and sporadic incidents continue. There has to be a political resolution to this conflict.
Kalita who was in Gauhati Press Club on Tuesday 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 has to 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 armory.
