Manipur continues to descend into anarchy, with no guarantee of even the most fundamental right of citizens: the right to life. Forget law and order; anyone can be abducted and killed in the name of ethnic rivalry. The latest killings are a grim reminder that the state remains far from returning to normalcy, despite repeated assurances by the authorities.

The immediate provocation for the latest flare-up was the recovery of the bodies of two Kuki youths who had gone missing from Taphou Kuki village on October 28. There are allegations that the bodies were desecrated. Their recovery triggered violent protests in Kangpokpi, the blocking of National Highway-2 and a shutdown called by Kuki organisations. Security forces had to resort to tear gas to disperse the........

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