The Supreme Court ordered Manipur’s government to submit an updated status report on ethnic violence in the state on Monday. The case will be heard again on July 10th.
During the brief hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and the Manipur administration, informed the Supreme Court that the situation in the state is improving “slowly.”
The hearing comes a day after the United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO), two umbrella Kuki organisations, removed barriers on National Highway 2 in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district.
In a joint statement, the two organisations, which represent among others former militant groups that have signed suspension of operations pacts with the government, said the blockade on the highway has been lifted with immediate effect, following an appeal by Union home minister Amit Shah.
The organisations said the home minister had shown “deep concern to restore peace and harmony” in the state.
However, Kuki civil society group Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), which had announced a roadblock on NH-2 two months ago, has not officially withdrawn the agitation yet. Manipur has two national highways — NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam).
Since the outbreak of violence in Manipur on May 3, Kuki outfits have blocked the NH-2, which was temporarily reopened during Shah’s arrival in late May.
More than 100 people have died as a result of ethnic conflict in Manipur between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
Meiteis make up around 53% of Manipur’s population and dwell primarily in the Imphal Valley. Tribals – Nagas and Kukis – make up another 40% of the population and live in the hill districts.