Even before the 17-month-old Manipur crisis started from May 3, 2023 narratives have been built up by the Kuki-Chin group against the government. But after the crisis started, narratives have been built up by both sides. For a very long period, the Kuki Chin narratives were dominating as they pre-planned; even inviting national and international correspondents and were at Churachandpur when the crisis unfolded. The Meitei picked up and were at the ascendancy after the report of drone bombing and firing of rockets that travelled for more than 5-6 km. The Kuki have again through some outside journalists presented their spin in an aggressive manner to counter the negative reportage. This writer had in his column pointed out that in this narrative mayhem, it is difficult to separate the grain from the chaff.
The situation became more confusing when senior retired officers who have experience in Manipur started their own narratives in national mainstream media so much so that even the COAS had to come out to give his view. As a serving officer, though his predecessor also spoke to the press after his visit to Manipur, the present COAS views are more direct.
The present COAS had long experience in Manipur as he was the Brigade Commander of 26 Sector Assam Rifles at Pallel and was also IGAR (East) based in Silchar. In his press interaction he made a few points, some of them more glaring. He mentioned that there is no burning of the Anglo-Kuki War Centenary gate though a few tyres were burnt. This has been the consistent stand of this writer and many others as it is a steel structure and a few scooter tyres cannot seriously harm it. Besides, the location was such that it would be difficult for any Meitei to go there and start the fire. This gate was asked to be dismantled by the authorities as it was constructed over a National Highway without taking any permission from the competent authority.
He continued to parrot the line that the order of the High Court of Manipur on the demand by the Meitei for inclusion in the ST List; despite the fact that in all the areas where the Tribal Solidarity Rally was held, it ended peacefully and only in Churachandpur that violence started when the rally was about to culminate. Ascribing to the High Court’s orders alone is too simplistic an explanation as prior to that in the last week of April a Forest Beat Office was set on fire, the Open Gym supposed to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister was vandalised and the main question is why should the anger on the government turn towards the Meitei, The Kuki-Chin try to justify this by calling the Manipur government, Meitei government and if so why has the two Kuki Ministers still not resigned from the Ministry or why was the two not dropped as they are supporting views contrary to the decision of the cabinet where all the members have collective responsibility.
Regarding the support receiving from across the border, he mentioned about the support to the Meitei insurgent groups that he called Valley Based Insurgent Groups and that similar help is claimed to have been received by the other groups though he did not named it and that would only mean the Kuki-Chin group.
The Meitei living across the border have mostly been converted into Barmar and those who claim to be Kathe or Poone are limited and are spread far and wide with the maximum in Mandalay. For the Kuki-Chin they are localised in Chin State and Sagaing Division and as both these border Manipur and Mizoram they have full contact especially as all belong to the cognate tribes. Christianity among them irrespective of the border also helps. Hence, the support received from the border will naturally be more in this community. Besides, there is a dream of a Zoland or Chinland or Kukiland or Zalengam comprising areas inhabited by this community in Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.
For the Meitei, the help is bound to be limited and will either come from the Takmadaw when it suits their purpose or from the Ethnic Armed Organisations with whom they have friendly relations. The mention of the crossing over of 900 armed militants from across the border was by that time a closed chapter as it was subsequently negated by both the police and the central security agencies. There was an input and this was cross checked and found to be incorrect but it was necessary to cross check it before discarding it. One appreciates that when there is a problem across the border, those living there will come across the border where they can stay for sometime in peace.
But those coming are not only for that as many try to establish villages, obtain Aadhar by hook or by crook, etc. In a very short time a Committee headed by a Kuki Minister detected more than two thousand infiltrators, many of whom have set up villages. The verification was limited to a few areas and the time was also short and if full verification was conducted the number would sharply increase. The need for welcoming such illegal immigrants is a humanitarian act but unrecorded entry will definitely create problems. One recalls that no Rohingya refugees were allowed entry but India cannot be faulted as it is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention.
The claim that there was no drone bombing is at the most an effort to deflect the investigation being conducted by the NIA. The police based on eyewitnesses, including personnel of central forces and other evidence, claimed that there were drone bombings. The denial is based on what was claimed to be the use of technology. Koutruk is close to the headquarters of the 57 Mountain Division and appropriate technology to protect from any drone attacks must have been put in place.
But if that is the case why so many drones were allowed to buzz around in that area by the contesting parties. The technology adopted is low no doubt but the denial can only lead to question whether some security forces are complicit to the drone attacks? Whether there were drone bombings can only be established after the complete investigation by the NIA. Despite claims that there is no rockets used and only pumpi were used and that some of the more refined pumpi can reach up to 3 km, there is no denial that the rockets fired at Oksungbung, Tronglaobi and Moirang had flown over a distance of 4-6.5 km and these are no pumpi but rudimentary rockets using low grade propellants and low grade explosives based from the fragments collected by both the state police and CPOs stationed nearby.
The central security agencies seeking support from the Kuki is not a new thing and seems to be continuing for many decades. There was a news report by a correspondent of Telegraph published on its March 30, 1993 issue reporting” In the present conflict, the centre is trying to use the Kuki National Army (KNA) to check the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-Muivah). The Government is trying to take advantage of a traditional enmity that exists between the two Tribes.
The president of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), of which KNA is the military wing Hr Hanglen, admitted to this correspondent that the organisation is in touch with certain army cantonment in the region. He even claimed that he was invited for a talk in New Delhi with the Chief of the Army Staff Gen SF Rodrigues on Christmas Eve last year.” Mr Hanglen was of Myanmar origin and was later killed in a factional fight. This report was perhaps not contradicted. Even the Chairman of UKLF Mr SS Haokip submitted as annexure to his affidavit in the case relating to the theft of pistol from a State armed police armoury that his group had helped the ruling party in two elections and he named the in charge of the party for Manipur and a Chief Minister of a neighbouring state; though both denied vehemently nobody believed them.
Regarding the wrong narratives floating around there is no doubt that the parade of two nude ladies cited was never denied and the meira paibis even dismantled the house of an alleged perpetrator. No mention of the killing of the two teenagers was made even though the clip is deemed genuine. Now after the reportage of the drone bombing at Koutruk in the national media, a few persons including journalists are bringing out clips of last year vintage to keep the pot boiling making many to think whether they are paid ones.
The interview of the COAS can be seen as an effort to defend his force including the AR. which are under fire but whether it will cut any ice is out in the open.
(The view expressed are personal)
