Ethnic conflicts, unlike other variants of strife, are more difficult to end because of the nature and the level of grievances of the communities hostile to each other. This persecution complex is fed by those who drive passions to such an extent that taking a position on reconciliation through mutual compromises and peace-building becomes difficult even if a silent majority are in favour of it. Using threats by brandishing arms, chauvinist sections try to drown out voices of reason by drilling in fear and ideas of further vengeance. That seems to be the case with Manipur too, where, after months of dilly-dallying over taking on the patrons of violence, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government has finally decided to isolate such elements and subject them to the long arm of the law. That the Imphal valley has again erupted in protest over the arrest of leaders of the extremist identitarian outfit, Arambai Tenggol, highlights the necessity and the difficulty of implementing law enforcement measures in an ethnic conflict. This group had engaged in acts of wanton lawlessness with impunity, targeting those who did not agree with its militant agenda with violence and threats. It had also coerced MLAs into signing pledges for its chauvinist cause. Shockingly, the then BJP-led State government looked the other way – a consequence of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s inability to rise above his partisanship. The security forces were also unable to act because of public protection for the violent offenders. Soon, such groups went to become a major threat to peace and it was only after implementing President’s Rule that the government managed to get the group, among others, to return most of the weapons looted from police constabularies

The arrests have coincided with similar actions against other militant volunteers in the hills who were allegedly involved in violence against law enforcement officers. The government of Manipur, which is currently under President’s Rule, must make a clear case of the involvement of those arrested in crimes and bring them to justice. It should not give in to the threats made by those stoking communal passions, and must convince the people – across ethnic lines – that these are lawful actions against malefactors. It must simultaneously engage in talks with other stakeholders, also asserting that such steps will coincide with peace-building and rehabilitation measures. It must use devices such as convening all-party meetings and involving civil society representatives from across all ethnic lines to reinforce this message, and must not give in to pressure to reverse the legal steps taken against the offenders.