New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought an updated status report from Manipur on measures taken to curb the violent ethnic clashes going on in the state for the last two months.
The apex court also directed the BJP-led state government to apprise it about rehabilitation camps, the recovery of arms and law and order.
The bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices P.S. Narasimha and Manoj Misra will hear the matter again next Monday.
The top court was hearing two appeals – one which sought the protection of the Kuki tribe from the Indian Army, and another that challenged the direction of the Manipur High Court which wanted the majority Meitei to be given the Scheduled Tribe tag.
The violence started on 3 May when the hill-based Kukis rose against the high court order, which effectively meant the more privileged valley-living, non-tribals Meiteis would get economic benefits reserved for the hill tribes.
Over 100 people have died in the clashes, and nearly 50,000 displaced in the state’s ongoing destructive unrest.
Hundreds of churches and temples have also been destroyed. The hill tribes are majority Christians while the Meiteis – who make up 90% of the population – are Hindus.
Several rounds of peace talks between the communities, some held during a visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have so far made no headway in this BJP-ruled state.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also visited the state last week and appealed for peace as “violence was no solution”, he said.
Gandhi told reporters: “Peace is the way forward and everybody should now talk about peace… I share the pain of the people of Manipur. It is a horrible tragedy.”
He visited various relief camps where displaced families have been put up and urged the state government to improve their conditions.
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