"Manipur Needs A Political Solution": Top Army Officer's Big Remark

Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, General Officer Commanding-In-Chief of Eastern Command, said incidents of sporadic violence continue because of polarisation

The Manipur situation needs a political solution, the Army's eastern command chief has said. Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, General Officer Commanding-In-Chief of Eastern Command, told the media in Guwahati yesterday that incidents of sporadic violence in the Northeastern state continue due to sharp polarisation between communities.

"It is a political problem in the state where two communities, Kukis and Meiteis, are polarised. There has to be a political resolution of the Manipur situation," he said. The top Army officer added that over 4,000 looted weapons continue to be in the hands of the people and these weapons are being used in incidents of violence.

The significant remarks come amid a 48-hour shutdown in Manipur's Kangpokpi district to protest against the killing of a security personnel and his driver. A personnel of India Reserve Battalion and his driver were killed in ambush Monday. The Committee on Tribal Unity, which gave the shutdown call, has said the victims were from Kuki-Zo community and accused valley-based insurgent groups of killing them.