Central team to hold talks with Kuki, Meitei groups

OFFICIALS SAID THE TEAM HELD ITS FIRST MEETING WITH ARAMBAI TENGGOL, A MEITEI GROUP IN THE IMPHAL VALLEY

The Union ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday dispatched a three-member team to ethnic violence-hit Manipur to hold talks with members of both Meitei and Kuki communities in an attempt to restore peace in the northeastern state, people familiar with the matter said.

The team comprising AK Mishra, the Centre's interlocutor for peace talks, and two senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), will spend few days in Manipur, holding talks with various civil society organisations and representatives from both communities, an official aware of the details said.

"The central team reached Imphal on a special charter flight on Monday evening. They will remain in Manipur for next few days and start talks," the official said, requesting anonymity.

Though MHA officials did not comment on the proposed meetings of its representatives, officials in Manipur said the MHA team held its first meeting with Arambai Tenggol, an influential Meitei group in the Imphal valley, where the community dominates.