Manipur, Feb. 18 -- Whenever state forces or local volunteers tried to retaliate on the attacks one or the other central forces were there to intervene or as they say they are simply trying to 'keep the peace' in between. Then, someone came up with the idea of a 'buffer zone' between the hill and valley areas. It could have been the higher-ups in central forces and Kukis keep asserting it. They keep saying that Meiteis, be it the state forces or local militias, have no right to cross the 'buffer zone' whatsoever be the circumstances. It was like the British dividing the valley and hills in the matter of administration during the colonial times. The wedge driven by them is still potent and often rears up its head.

Meanwhile, attacks by mi...