Violence scars next-gen

Guwahati: “Will they throw stones at us when we go to school?” eight-year-old Barbie's question baffles her mother.
Barbie is optimistic about returning to school and friends, as is four-year-old Nancy who is in kindergarten and longs to get back to her books.
But Lara, in her early 20s, is aware of the uncertain future that stares the children as well as those who have stepped into adulthood.
She is concerned about whether scores like her in Manipur will be able to appear for the competitive examinations which will determine their career and future life.
Barbie, Nancy and Lara (names changed to protect their identities) are among those who fled Manipur as ethnic clashes raged in their state and are now taking shelter at relatives’ places in Guwahati.
While Nancy's house was torched after they had fled, Barbie's was stoned when she was still inside with her family. Lara's place was saved due to protection provided by neighbours as she and her family members took shelter in a relief camp.
“I can't sleep anymore, I have flashbacks and nightmares. We were fortunate that we had good neighbours (belonging to another community), who gave us shelter on the night violence broke out and stood guard at the doorstep,” Lara said, recounting the horrors that unfolded on the night of May 3 and took them by surprise.
Violent clashes broke out in the northeastern state after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
“We managed to reach a CRPF camp safely the next morning, but three family members of a friend were not so lucky. A mob stopped their vehicle which was just behind ours. They pulled them out and thrashed them.
“My friend, who is away in Delhi, lost her mother and brother. Her sister-in-law is fighting for her life in a hospital now,” Lara added in between sobs and wiping her tears. pti