In a high degree of security throughout Manipur, the warring communities (Meiteis and Kuki-Zo) observed the second anniversary of the racial conflict on May 3 on May 3. Although Kuki-Zo people regard the day as a “date of separation” to meet their needs for separate autonomous entities, Meiteis, under the protection of the Manipur Integrity Coordination Committee, held the “People Congress of Manipur” in Imphal, calling on the center to restore peace in the state.
More than 265 people died in the two communities after the shocking chaos of Manipur on May 3, 2023 and beyond, not much improvement in the case of law and order. Although no one dared to land on the hills of Churachandpur or Kangpokpi area into the Imphal valley, Meitei was not welcome in these mountainous areas. So much so that even the current Supreme Court Justice, Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh from Manipur, had to avoid visiting Churachandpur, when a team from the Apex Court led by Justice Bhushan R. Gavai visited the situation in the state in March this year. The lawyers’ association in Churachandpur area made him unable to access the area. Justice Kotiswar Singh stayed in Moirang with another judge while the rest excluded from Justice Meitei of Manipur High Court, visited Churacandpur and interacted with displaced persons
Shelter is now in the relief camp.
After shaking the violence in the state, former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh is believed to have set out to Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation to the governor on June 30, 2023, but was restricted by the Meitei community, especially some avid female activists, starting further. They tore up his resignation letter. Despite the turmoil in the following months and demanding a resignation, Biren Singh continued to rule the country. He resigned on February 9 this year alone.
Efforts were made to implement the president’s rule on February 16 in vain.
With the deployment of 288 central paramilitary companies, the state is expected to witness changes in the oceans of security programs. However, sporadic violence continues. Extremists’ blackmail is rampant. After the president’s rule was implemented, police arrested more than 140 ransomists for the losses of the arrested ransomists. Unfortunately, the fingers have been raised due to the neutrality and impartiality of the Assam rifle and the CRPF. Despite allegations that Assam rifle favors kuki-zo, the CRPF is allegedly gloved with Meiteis. This is a dangerous situation that these troops commanders must prevent. Any acts that paramilitary personnel damage these forces’ neutrality must be dealt with with heavy hands. In an incident in Jiribam on November 11 last year, Kukis blamed CRPF on killing rural volunteers who protected the village. Under the scanners, Assam rifle allegedly supported Kukis when it stopped the Manipur police from crossing the buffer zone.
In May 2023, more than 6,000 weapons and 650,000 bullets were robbed from various police agencies. Of these, about 1,500 arms and 20,000 rounds were recovered before the presidential rule was imposed. After governor Ajay Bhalla’s ultimatum to surrender the looped weapons, 1,063 weapons and a little over 15,000 rounds were surrendered till March 6, while the rest are still in the hands of miscreants, mostly Arambai Tenggol and other militant outfits like the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), People’s Republic of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and other separatist groups.
Local Meitei costume Arambai Tenggol wore teeth and called for shootings in the state that even MLAS bows bowed. Founded by Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba (formerly successor to the royal family), the outfit has over 5,000 members, and former CM N. Biren Singh praised it. Biren Singh’s role in violence against the state in cases with a large amount of evidence in the Supreme Court. Arambai Tenggol surrendered only 246 plundering weapons, of which only 106 are exquisite weapons. The weapons in the hands of radical clothing are dangerous. With the influx of central forces, the responsibility of some companies, as well as state police forces, may be the task of restoring weapons.
With the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act extended throughout Manipur, the security forces should go all out against radical clothing including Arambai Tenggol, in addition to the jurisdiction of 13 police stations. Police, Army and CAPF maintain law and order, while political leaders need meaningful peace negotiations between warring communities. Ironically, while Kuki-Zo requires a separate administrative structure, Meiteis opposes it, hoping to keep the status quo.
No resolution was reached on the peace talks on April 5, although both groups agreed to meet to reach a lasting solution. As of now, the Kuki-Zo tribe has insisted on the autonomous administrative setup under the sixth timetable of the Constitution, just as Bodos in Assam did.
The norm in Manipur will be a distant cry until Metis and Kukizzo move freely through the hills and valleys without fear of attack. “Forgiveness and Forgetfulness” should be the path to harmonious life in the state.
The author is a retired CRPF IGP who has served in the Northeast for more than ten years
