Manipur is passing through the worst of times. The border state in one of the hinges of India’s North East needs special treatment from the centre. Bordering Myanmar, after having witnessed one of the bloodiest battles of freedom struggle where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose led Indian National Army fought with British forces, Manipuris had shunned violence for years and walked the path of normalcy. A few sporadic incidents occurred but militancy was rebuffed till in a camouflaged form, it found sum and substance in the attacks of communities living side by side like brothers over the ages.
The state has about 3.3 million people living in it. Of these 53 per cent belongs to the ethnic Meiteis far outnumbering Kukis and Nagas. State government of Manipur cannot wash its hands off the violence and arson made worse by crimes against women and displacement of children. The violence has been fuelled by weapons looted from the armouries of police, Manipur Rifles and IRB battalions.
Even before the smoke of the burning huts have cleared and vigilante parties continue to roam the state, questions arise as to why the loot was allowed to happen. After all, state forces’ armouries stocking arms and ammunition for upkeep of law and order are not guns slung on the walls of a householder to be taken down in self defence.
Usually these arms depots are heavily guarded. . The wonders never cease as to why no incidents of firing by those guarding the armouries, even in self defence are yet to be reported. One is in the dark about the action taken against those who surrendered to the mob.
The situation warrants that the responsibilities on the police, intelligence agencies and civil administration have to be fixed. No pick and choose approach can restore normalcy.
Thankfully the Supreme Court has directed former Maharashtra DGP DattatrayPadsalgikar who is functioning on the apex court’s order to “investigate the allegation that certain police officers colluded with the perpetrators of violence (including sexual violence) during the conflict.” The nation needs to know whether the acts of abject surrender to a mob was further tainted by the complicity of some of the men in uniform.
Not even baby steps have been taken to kick start the peace process. In this grim and grave situation, the daily death toll is merely “total number of lives lost.”Men are being murdered, women raped and molested and every day in relief camps is one of dismay and the nights are sleepless. Meanwhile, the state which provides pivotal stability to ASEAN forays continues to be in flames.
Mere appeal to surrender the weapons looted and used in ethnic conflict will be cries in the wilderness. A weaponised society, being a sure recipe for disaster, concerted operations have to be launched to recover the arms and incentives offered to those surrendering them voluntarily. The perpetrators of violence need to be put behind the bars sans any regard to community or socio-political group. This has to be done with alacrity.
The ruling dispensation has to reach out to all political players, youth and civil society groups and take them on board to explore the path to the peace process. A strong commitment to restore peace and a shared perspective will go a long way in this regard.
The discussion on a no-confidence motion in the Parliament this week gave no real assurance to the suffering people of Manipur as the assurances by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, are yet to reach the ground. . This is time for concrete action and just not lip services. (IPA Service)
By Tirthankar Mitra
