Despite assurances by the Central and the state leaders that normalcy is slowly returning in Manipur and that violence is receding, suddenly violence racked Jiribam district after an attack on a Meitei Village and the subsequent retaliation leading to the death of a lady on November 7. This was followed by attack on a number of vulnerable villages along the foothills of the Central Manipur valley leading to the death of a lady farmer, who was harvesting paddy at Wathalambi near Saiton, from sniper fire on November 9. The concerted attacks were quite disturbing as the target are peripheral villages where harvesting of paddy is going on in full swing. Even a Tangkhul was injured at Shantikhongbal in Imphal East on November 11, hit by shot gun pellets though it was claimed that sophisticated weapons were also used in the attack. The objective seem to be to disturb the harvesting the paddy.
Last year, similar attacks was seen but after deployment of a large number of security personnel providing security to the farmers, harvesting was carried out without too much of a disturbance though firing at a few places were resorted to. One fails to understand why the lesson of last year was not learnt and no proper arrangement for security during the harvesting season this year was planned and put into action. This only reinforces the sayings that “public memory is short” and “men do not learn from history”. The main target this time is at the Sabungkhok Khunou, Shantikhongbal, Thamnapokpi and Sanasabi in Imphal East and in Saiton area of Bishnupur district.
November 11 was a brutal day as armed Hmar miscreants attacked Jakuradhor area setting on fire a number of shops and abducting some persons. The CRPF retaliated leading to the death of some say 10, some 11, and some even 14. There were rumours that one CRPF personnel also died in the incident but the official press release indicate that one CRPF personnel was injured while 10 armed persons were killed and 10 sophisticated weapons were recovered including a RPG. On that day, there were reports that 10 Meitei were missing but claims were made that all have been accounted for. But on the morning of November 12, it was reported that two elderly persons were found in the remains of the burnt shops, two have been rescued but six - three women and three children have been abducted. SM reports claimed that they have been killed but this need confirmation. Those armed militants who were killed seem to belong to Churachandpur and perhaps not locals.
The information available in the media is sketchy and one cannot understand the reason for this round of violence. The social media is agog with false information with old videos being circulated indicating as if these are recent. One fails to understand the logic of such individuals who seem to have little to do except spreading false rumour and perhaps were rubbing their hands in glee that their mischief were not called out and many are following their posts. There is a need to come down heavily on such persons as such posts can only increase the tension. One example is the claim that firing from Sugnu side had started and that was only contradicted by Sugnu people who say that nothing of the sort had happened and they are harvesting paddy without any disturbance. Such people even do not know the topography and the ambience of the locations and village names were used at random, without understanding the proximity of the villages.
On the night of November 11, there was heavy firing from the Kuki side at Imphal East and Imphal West periphery, and even some houses and vehicles of Meitei at Kangchup and Phayeng have been subjected to arson. Many had to run away from their homes and hid themselves as the Kuki who came down in large number. One common refrain from the victims were that the Meitei village volunteers were not allowed to retaliate by the central security forces even to the extent of parking their APCs blocking the way. There were claims of use of drones and if so, what happened to the much publicised procurement of anti drone systems?
Some illumination rounds manufactured by Indian Ordinance Factory were also recovered from the site and thus the question is how has the Kuki got hold of this and used it or whether it was fired by the central security forces and if so with what purpose? The only way to stop the violence is to ensure that one community do not cross over to the other’s side but unfortunately this is happening or permitted for those coming from the hills. It may be understood that movement from the valley is more accessible and once the valley people decide to move to the hills to retaliate, the casualty among the unarmed civilians can be much higher. The governments and its agencies must work out a proper mechanism so that attack of other’s villages does not occur. One victim even allege that operations were conducted in the valley villages by security forces and when the village volunteers had moved out, such attacks always occur; thereby hinting a nexus and this need to be clarified.
Unfortunately since the past few days, despite the growing violence, no political leaders particularly from the ruling parties had opened their mouth though in SM, there were posts of review of Externally Aided Projects, indicating the priority of the state government in bringing normalcy and contain the violence. The response from the common men were telling and if the leaders have an iota of dignity, they should have either took immediate action leading from the front or resign from their positions. Nobody, though, desires to listen to them and the only way is action to contain the violence by imposing rule of law dispassionately on anybody who violates the law.
The MLA of Kumbi was treated with disdain by the affected villagers in his constituency as he seem to totally miss out on the issues involved and fail to understand the complexity and the sufferings. For the Jiribam MLA, it seems none in his constituency was placing any trust on him and nobody expects him to come to the support of those affected. The Lamlai MLA is also known more for his inaction. The villagers of the affected areas have been hit hard due to their inability to choose their representative properly through ethical voting and by going with the promises of incompetent leaders who during peace time may perform through connection but not so in such tough situation as they just could not visualise the depth of the anger towards each other community.
There is a need for redeployment of the security forces to ensure that they are stationed in between the two parties, rather than placing them in the valley for convenience as this give advantage to one party. One understands that the instructions given to the personnel is to ensure that one group do not cross over and attack the other but they are more concerned that the Meitei because of higher population and bigger village scan withstand an attack from the Kuki while the Kuki villages being small cannot resists an attack from the Meitei. But to ensure justice, it is not for them to decide who has the advantage but ensure that none cross the line to attack the other. Or else a time may come when the SF may be targeted due to extreme anger and frustration; and perhaps that was what they are waiting for!
Poromsingh Ching is a hill given by the British to Porom Singh from Phayeng, the first Meitei Christian convert and belongs to Phayeng. Similarly the Uyokchoing behind Thamnapokpi and other villages are the areas of the nearby villages of the Valley for extracting firewood, etc and is a part of the Valley Forest Reserve. To claim that these should be under Kangpokpi district is illogical as Imphal West cannot claim Irang Part I & II of Kangpokpi district only because these are flatland.
The casualty in this round of latest violence is high with lots of brutality seen and if timely action is not taken such violence will visit again sooner than later. The two governments and the security apparatus must work out a proper mechanism to ensure that such type of violence do not recur and a proper plan must be put in place. There are a few areas where the security personnel ensures that two adjacent villages do not host armed militants or volunteers coming from outside and this bring in a sense of normalcy with the villagers doing their normal chores. It may require a larger number of manpower but proper planning can do justice to the innocent people and pave a way for bringing in a sense of normalcy.
(The views expressed are personal)
