2 weeks ago
Supreme Court Urges Kuki, Meitei Groups to End Manipur Violence
Manipur is a place in India where two groups of people, the Kuki and Meitei communities, have been fighting for a long time.
The fighting started in May 2023, and more than 260 people have died.
Many people have also had to leave their homes because it is not safe.
Because of the fighting, some roads and highways are blocked.
When highways are blocked, trucks cannot bring food and other important things to people.
The Supreme Court, the highest court in India, talked to both groups on Friday.
The judges said both groups must be tired of fighting and should try to make peace and open the roads.
They asked both sides to share their ideas for opening all the blocked roads within two weeks.
The court also warned that simply ordering the roads to be opened could lead to more people getting hurt.
The two groups blamed each other for blocking the roads, and the judges asked them to find a lasting solution together.
The Supreme Court urged the Kuki and Meitei communities to restore peace in Manipur and reopen blocked roads and highways.
More than 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced since ethnic violence began in Manipur in May 2023.
The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, gave both groups two weeks to submit details of blocked roads and proposals for reopening them.
The court impleaded the Centre and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as parties in the petition.
The Kuki petitioner and Meitei intervener traded allegations over the road blockades, including on NH-2 linking Imphal with Dimapur in Nagaland.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of India (bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana), the Kuki Women Organisation For Human Rights (a wing of KOHUR), and the International Meitei Organisation
- What
- The court urged the Kuki and Meitei communities to restore peace and reopen blocked highways, directing both sides to submit road details and reopening proposals within two weeks and impleading the Centre and NHAI
- Where
- Manipur, India, including NH-2 connecting Imphal with Dimapur in Nagaland
- When
- The hearing took place on Friday, during ethnic violence that has continued since May 2023
- Why
- More than 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced, while road blockades have disrupted supplies of essential commodities
Kuki side
Meitei side
Who is blocking the highways?
Kuki side
The Kuki petitioner said it is against violence and in favour of peace and opening roads, alleging Meiteis were blocking several routes and affecting supplies of essential commodities.
Meitei side
The Meitei intervener called the Kuki petition 'mischievous', alleging Kukis had been blocking all highways and roads in the state, even after the chief minister appealed for their opening.
How should the blockade be resolved?
Kuki side
The Kuki women's plea seeks removal of the blockade on NH-2 to restore supplies to Kuki-dominated areas.
Meitei side
The court cautioned that directly ordering roads to be opened could lead to loss of lives and demanded concrete proposals from both groups, warning that roads cannot be opened piecemeal.
Key facts
- Court bench
- Chief Justice Surya Kant; Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana
- Fatalities
- More than 260 killed
- Displaced
- Thousands displaced
- Violence began
- May 2023
- Petitioner
- Kuki Women Organisation For Human Rights (a wing of KOHUR)
- Intervener
- International Meitei Organisation
- Highway at issue
- NH-2 (Imphal–Dimapur, Nagaland)
- Deadline
- Road details and reopening proposals due in two weeks
Quotes
Senior Advocate Anand Grover
Advocate representing the Kuki Women Organisation
“They were against any kind of violence and killings, and are in favour of peace and opening of roads and highways, but alleged that Meiteis were blocking several routes due to which supply of essential commodities was getting affected.”
telegraphindia.com
“"The issue is very genuine and blocking of national highways is a serious matter, but intervention of court in directing for opening of highways will lead to loss of lives."”
deccanchronicle.com
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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