Imphal, May 02 2010: The existing conflict situation in Manipur produces serious impact on the mental health of the people, said Head of RIMS Clinical Psychology Department Prof M Akshaykumar.

Prof Akshaykumar was speaking in a three-day Soul Searching seminar which began at GM Hall here since yesterday.

The seminar being held under the theme '60 years of Indianisation of Manipur' was organised by the Freedom Research Foundation.

Speaking in today's afternoon session, Prof Akshaykumar said that normal lives of the people have been greatly affected by the prevailing conflict situation.

Many people are suffering from insomnia, anxiety, distress and other mental ailments.

The conflict situation causes psychological trauma in two areas.

On one side are the civilians while on the other, it is those section of people who have been deeply hurt at the loss of Manipur's sovereignty.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already identified political violence and war as a public health issue.

Some of the traumatic events which continue to haunt the people of Manipur till today are the Heirangoithong massacre of 1984, Operation Blue Bird at Oinam in 1987, RIMS massacre of 1995, Tousem Lamkhai killing of 1999 and Malom massacre of 2000, Prof Akshaykumar noted.

Family members of the victims of these events are still suffering from trauma.

Observing that the struggle and sacrifice of Irom Chanu Sharmila and late Pebam Chittaranjan against the infamous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act are big issues which have direct bearing on the mental health of the people, Akshaykumar said that many women outraged by security personnel have been suffering from untold mental distress and trauma.

Both the security personnel and militants engaged in the armed conflict would be suffering from combat neurosis, operational fatigue, shell shock etc.

A thorough study is required to confirm it, Akshaykumar said.

Prof Dhanabir Laishram of Political Science Department, Manipur University asserted that the number of people opposed to the Indian regime in Manipur are increasing day by day.

He also pointed out the contradictory positions adopted by the Government of India which has ruled out any political dialogue if sovereignty is a pre-condition, and the insurgent groups which have refused to come out for political dialogue if sovereignty is not on the agenda.

Today's seminar was moderated by Prof Gangmumei Kamei.

In the morning session, Prof N Joykumar and P Sarat presented papers as resource persons.

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