If a bruised and bleeding Manipur wants to heal, the words of its first woman Deputy Chief Minister, Nemcha Kipgen, must be heard. She wants the buffer zones between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo communities to remain for now, particularly in areas where the scars run deep, because safety comes first. But the complexity of the ground situation is such that Ms. Kipgen is stationed in Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi, and unable to attend the Assembly session in Imphal due to security concerns. Her political masters too will do well to hear these words because the cycle of violence has to be broken. But first, Ms. Kipgen has to feel confident to travel to Imphal.

Source: The Hindu February 21, 2026 02:36 UTC