US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Thursday spoke on the violent situation in Manipur and said that the issue is more a human concern than a strategic one. He said one need not be an Indian to care when "children or individuals die in this sort of violence". Garcetti said that the United States is ready to assist in the peace efforts if asked and added that more investment can be brought into Manipur if peace continues in the region. Manipur faced severe violent incidents in May and June after Kuki and Meitei communities clashed forcing hundreds to migrate to safer places.
"I don't think it's about strategic concerns, it's about human concerns. You don't have to be an Indian to care when children or individuals die in this sort of violence. We know peace as a precedent for so many good things. There has been so much progress in the Northeast and the East...We stand ready to assist in any ways if asked. We know it's an Indian matter and we pray for that peace and that it may come quickly. Because we can bring more collaboration, more projects, more investment if that peace is in place," Garcetti said.
Reacting to Garcetti's statement, Congress MP Manish Tewari said that India never appreciates any statement on its internal matters.
"... There is gun violence in the US & several people are killed. We never told the US to learn from us as to how to rein that in. US faces riots over racism. We never told them that we will lecture them...Perhaps it is important for the new Ambassador to take cognisance of the history of India-US relations," he told ANI.
Meanwhile, a day after schools resumed classes in violence-hit Manipur, a woman was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside a school in the Imphal West district of the northeastern state on Thursday, officials said. The incident took place at Kwakeithel Mayai Koibi under Lamphel police station around 3.40 pm on Wednesday, according to the officials.
As per the agency, she had gone near the school for some work but was not connected with any educational institute.
Sources close to PTI said that intermittent gunfire was heard in a village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district early Thursday, hours after security forces thwarted clashes when men armed with automatic weapons began to attack villagers. Armed groups from nearby areas gathered in the area, escalating tensions, the sources revealed.
However, the situation was brought under control because of the deployment of Assam Rifles personnel in the area.
Following the killing of the woman, a tribal organisation demanded the imposition of President’s Rule in the northeastern state.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) identified the woman as Donngaihching, a mentally ill person who lived on alms provided by locals. “We again urge the central government to relieve the incapable state government and impose President’s Rule immediately,” the ITLF said in a statement.
More than 100 people have lost their lives and over 3,000 injured since ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.