Will Centre Intervene As Violence Escalates In Manipur? CM Seeks Action Against Militant Groups

There is serious crisis in Manipur as violence is coiling. Chief Minister N Biren Singh, on Friday, met with Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya for the second time in less than a day. CM had several key demands to bring peace and ensure the state’s safety.

Key Demands For Peace And Control

CM in his meeting with the Governor, pressed upon the central government to reject the Kuki-Zo groups demand of a separate administration. He advised the need for better control over the ongoing security operations in the state that are presently managed by officials from the Home Ministry, the state security adviser and the Army. Singh also demanded that the central government should take firm action to put an end to the unabated violence that has been witnessing in Manipur ever since ethnic clashes broke out last year.

The demands also include calls for an end to the SoO agreement with Kuki insurgent groups-an agreement against which criticism has mounted for doing little to prevent conflict. Leaders in an all-party meeting earlier this year called for its cancellation in favor of more aggressive action on behalf of security forces. Singh has also demanded that border fencing be completed and an NRC be drawn up to list who is a legal resident, and called for deportation of illegal immigrants.

Growing Violence And Tensions

Violence in the Manipur district started increasing in the first week of September. The terrorists of the Meitei and Kuki groups have been undertaking constant attacks with drones, rockets, and guns against each other and civilians. Seven people were killed on September 7 in one such attack, leading to increased violence.

There are also indication of a split within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, with talks about the replacement of the leadership. Singh had met the Governor earlier and had been in consultation with the ruling coalition MLAs after the recent spurt in violence.

Demands Of Kuki Students Organisation

The KSO has also had some demands. They include declaring the two Meitei groups, Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, as unlawful by the central government. The KSO is also demanding a halt to what they describe as state-backed activities against Kuki-Zo territories, with coordination of extremist groups.

The KSO has demanded an inquiry into the involvement of COCOMI in alleged terrorism and ethnic terrorism against the Kuki-Zo community. The latter warned that failure to comply might lead to mass protests.

Measures To Restore Peace

What Manipur needs at this critical juncture is nothing but urgent and effective measures to restore peace. Both the demands of the Chief Minister and those of the Kuki Students Organisation indicate the need for a balanced approach to restore peace in the area. What course the situation in Manipur takes in the future depends on what the central government does.

Violence Explodes In Jiribam District Of Manipur

Serious violence lashed the Jiribam district of Manipur on Wednesday morning, with six people reported to have been killed, the police maintain.

Nungchappi Village Under Attack

Nungchappi village, situated 229 km from Imphal, the state capital, had come under serious attack from suspected Kuki insurgents. In the attack, one man aged 63 years by the name of Yurembam Kulendra Singha was killed.

Previous Incident In Moirang Town

It comes a few days after a recent attack in the town of Moirang, which had one casualty from the Meitei community. The victim, an elderly man, was praying when Kuki insurgents attacked him with a rocket-propelled bomb.

Shootout Between Groups From Meitei And Kuki Tribes

In Jiribam, five people died in a shootout between gun-toting groups of the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes. The violence involved two “village defence volunteers” groups.

Police Response

SP for Jiribam along with his team arrived immediately. But they were fired at by the attackers. The police also opened fire and brought the situation under control.