NEW DELHI (TIP): The Centre is likely to hold talks with Kuki and Meitei communities as a step to resolve the 16-month ethnic strife in Manipur, a TNS report says. This comes amid the now unsubstantiated claims by the Manipur Government that 900 Kuki militants may launch an attack in the state on September 28.

Highly placed sources informed The Tribune that the Centre may soon initiate talks with both communities as part of its initiative to restore peace in the troubled state.

Another source closely connected with developments in Manipur also indicated that the stage is being set by the Centre as well as the state government to reach out to both communities.

This source said although the situation is relatively peaceful as no violent incident has been reported in the last fortnight, the security forces are on high alert with 80 odd companies of both the BSF and the CRPF on vigil to counter any spike in violence.

A senior security official told the Tribune correspondent that the security personnel were prepared to combat any kind of situation, though any decision would be taken only after consultations with the state government.

Last week, the security adviser to the Manipur Government and head of the unified command, Kuldeep Singh, had claimed that 900 highly trained Kuki militants had entered the state through Myanmar and were planning attacks on Meiteis on September 28. The Kuki groups had consequently given a call for a complete shutdown in areas under their domination on that day.

On September 25, the Manipur Government retracted its claim, saying reports about Kuki militants’ infiltration through Myanmar could not be substantiated. This too led to Kuki groups lambasting the government. Kuki groups went on to say that the call given for total shutdown on September 28 would remain, adding that if there was any bloodshed, then the state government would be responsible for the same.

While sources indicated that the state government climbed down from its earlier claim about infiltration by Kuki militants to prevent a flashpoint between the two communities, as several Meitei groups had also threatened to launch counter-attacks on Kukis, the situation, they added, continues to remain on a boil.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the Centre was likely to initiate talks with both groups as part of its peace initiative in a state, which has seen killing of more than 200 persons and displacement of 50,000 ever since the ethnic strife began there on May 3.

Earlier this month, Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the Centre was hopeful of controlling the situation in strife-torn Manipur, as talks were going on with both Meiteis and Kukis to find a solution to the ongoing ethnic violence.

He had further junked talks about Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s resignation or replacement. “Of late, there have been sporadic cases of violence, but Manipur has been relatively calm over the last three months. There has been no incident of violence in the last three days. We are sure of regaining control and restoring peace,” Shah had said on September 17. He further said that it was an ethnic issue that could not be resolved unless both ethnicities engage in talks. “We are talking to both Kuki and Meiteis communities, Shah said, adding that Biren Singh won’t be replaced as Chief Minister.