The Facts
On Thursday, at least ten people were injured in clashes between security officials and protesters in India's strife-hit northeastern state of Manipur.
According to reports, security forces used tear gas on a crowd of about 500 people attempting to storm the Chief Minister's ancestral residence in Imphal despite the imposition of a curfew.
The Spin
Narrative A
Draconian measures alone can't solve the socio-political crisis that the violence-hit Manipur has been facing, especially because such moves would only fuel questions about law enforcement in the state. The fact that the Imphal Valley — which accounts for most killings — was exempted from the "Disturbed Area" status indicates that even authorities know that unfettered powers will not work.
Narrative B
As violence persists in Manipur, armed forces must be called to help civil administration fight against extremist and insurgent groups planning to carry out violent activities. That's precisely why some parts of the state have been declared a Disturbed Area for yet another six months despite the sensitivity of that decision.
