India, March 22 -- Nearly three years after ethnic violence tore through Manipur, a cautious first step towards reconciliation emerged as chief minister Yumnam Khemchand sat down with the apex Kuki-Zo body for an "ice-breaking" meeting, describing it as an effort to bridge the deep trust deficit between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the meeting was held in Guwahati on Saturday and marked the first engagement between the two sides since violence broke out on May 3, 2023.

"As the first engagement after nearly three years of conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities, the interaction was largely an 'ice-breaking' session," the statement said.

The KZ...