The situation in violence-hit Manipur is so complex that nobody seems to have a viable solution in mind at the outset. Some are doling out ideas or strategies, but nothing seems to work. The first response from the Centre was parachuting a Security Advisor to the state ‘without’ invoking Article 355 of the Indian Constitution and vesting all security related affairs to him. In short, the Home portfolio was wrested from the state Chief Minister N Biren Singh and a ‘security advisor’ was put in charge. Even, a new Director General of Police (DGP) was brought in through inter-cadre transfer. And then, several companies of paramilitary and central forces arrived to defuse the burning situation. But the crisis refused to go away.
Acts of wanton violence continue to happen with attacks on periphery villages followed by retaliation and arson causing death and grievous injury to innocent bystanders with several thousands of people fleeing their homes and seeking refuge in relief camps or outside the state. Whole villages were uprooted and the umbilical cord attached to the land cut mercilessly.
Heavily armed Kuki militants, including illegal Myanmarese infiltrators roamed the hill ranges taking potshots on stray innocents of the villages in the periphery of the valley, while huge amount of arms and ammunition were looted from the state armouries in an effort to arm the village defenders in the periphery.
Hordes of volunteers armed with licensed arms from other areas also arrived in the villages to help out their fear-stricken brethren.
While the Kukis resorted to highway blockades and attacks besides a demand for separate administration to consolidate their hold on territories in hill ranges surrounding the valley, Meitei passion ran high and a strong retaliatory push began to clear the surrounding ranges of Kuki villages and militants.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit to the state, although belated, was preceded by Minister of State for Home, Nityainanda Rai, who camped in Manipur for about a week and assessed the volatile situation on the ground. Besides him, the Army Chief came and assessed the state of affairs while about three top army officials in the rank of Major General sat in Manipur.
Yet, violence continued unabated even during the visit of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During his visit, Kuki leaders met him at Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts, and asked him to provide security by central forces in the vicinity of Kuki villages, which was put to action. Before the Home Minister left Imphal he vested the chairmanship of Unified Command normally held by the state Chief Minister to the Security Advisor. However, the situation did not improve and violence continued in the state.
While the Kukis clinged to the sense of security provided for by forces stationed near their villages and the continuance of SoO, a lack of security and lack of trust for central forces among the valley populace grew in leaps and bounds. And, more central forces pour in. Till date, around 100 new companies are deployed in the state. How many more troops they are going to bring in to quell the violence?
Somehow we feel that, it would be erroneous on the part of the Centre and its agents here to think that solution lies in bringing in more and more troops.
The chief minister also seems to think in the same wavelength. He said that he chaired a meeting of the Unified Command recently of which we are struck with a dilemma whether he is really back in charge of things or not.
The chief minister said that security from several VVIPs and VIPs had been withdrawn and near about 2000 local police personnel, including from the Manipur Rifles and the Indian Reserve Battalion are ready to be deployed in the field for the safety of the people.
The question, however, is how many personnel would be required to control the violence and usher in normalcy and peace.
Recently, there was a report in a national newspaper about a new security strategy for Manipur. The report said that responsibility of certain districts would be given to a single force rather than deploying columns of various forces at different places in a district to ensure better coordination and operations.
However, we must say that no strategy would work until and unless the trust deficit is sincerely worked upon with a humane approach.
The fault lies in looking at every crisis in the region through the prism of security only.
Sadly, it has been like that throughout decades of independence in the region. Even the aspects of planning process and development intervention are screened through this prism.
Meanwhile, the part of emotional integration and of winning the hearts and minds of the people are missing from action all through.
We could understand, the central forces or security forces continue to hold dear to the Suspension of Operation agreement with Kuki militant groups, which they had painstakingly crafted.
The SoO agreement was first signed between the central government and the Kuki militant outfits brought under two umbrella organisations and it was only later on that the state government was brought into the picture and hence, the tripartite agreement.
So, the defence lobby would not bog down so easily to any kind of effort to abrogate. However, when it comes to enforcement of SoO ground rules, it is not right for generals to dump the responsibility to the state Home department entirely as SoO is clearly their baby.
Ultimately, a change in perception is quite needed to restore trust and confidence among the people with the central forces.
