An ominous storm

To say that Manipur has come to a boil again might not be an appropriate statement, for it has been burning continuously for the past 18 months.

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That the manageable crisis has continued in the state for such a long period of time without any breakthrough peace negotiation is, in itself, a living proof of the administration's failure to contain the violence in the strategically important state.

Both the state and the central government, steered by the BJP, have failed utterly in restoring peace in Manipur.

Over the past two days, violent protests have erupted across the Imphal Valley, with angry mobs attacking the homes of ministers and MLAs.

The recovery of six decomposed bodies of Meitei group members from a relief camp, believed to be of individuals abducted after the Jiribam shootout, has triggered an outpouring of grief, fury, and despair—all mixed in equal measure.

It can be safely said that months of unrelenting violence have pushed the state to the edge of anarchy.

The breakdown in law and order reflects a deeper crisis that is rooted in ethnic divisions, mistrust, and a failure of leadership.