The Supreme Court of India is overseeing the situation in Manipur due to ongoing ethnic violence, where petitioners are demanding accountability for the destruction of properties.
The Court has asked the Manipur government to disclose details about the destroyed and encroached properties after the ethnic violence from a year and a half ago.
A committee led by Justice Gita Mittal, supervising investigations and humanitarian aid, had its tenure extended by the Court a few months ago.
Ideally, this should be handled by the state and central governments, not the judiciary.
The Court stepped in due to severe issues like sexual violence, property destruction (including religious sites), and ongoing ethnic hostility.
The Union and State governments have been ineffective in addressing these problems.
Political leaders are divided along ethnic lines, and there is little agreement on solutions.
The government has also been hesitant to provide information about the situation.
Armed groups, often with looted weapons, have become more active, increasing violence in areas that were previously peaceful.
Manipur's violence gains national focus only when it escalates to extreme levels.
The Court’s renewed attention is important, but without substantial actions to end the violence, the effort will be incomplete.
The government seeks to keep the committee's findings secret under "national security" claims.
Truth and reconciliation processes are needed for long-term peace, which are currently missing in Manipur
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