The beefed-up presence of central forces, including elite CoBRA commandos, signals Manipur’s deepening security crisis and the prospect of much-needed operations against armed militants. But more boots on the ground cannot substitute governance. Two deputy chief ministers are openly at loggerheads — restoring order requires political leadership, not just reinforcements.
The three communities have lost trust in each other almost completely. For such a small state, they have to be persuaded that they will have to find a way to live together.