CROSS-FIRING IN BUFFER ZONES HALTED – MANIPUR SITUATION “SOMEWHAT BETTER” KUKI-ZO COUNCIL TEAM COMPLETES SECOND LEG OF CONTACT PLANS

“Somewhat better in recent days” is what regular Manipur watchers say, perhaps, for the first time in 21 months since the outbreak of ethnic violence in the north-eastern state on May 3, 2023 between Meiteis and Kuki tribals. The reference is obviously to the law and order situation and when they qualify their answer with “recent days”, they obviously refer to the changes that have taken place in Raj Bhavan early January and at the secretariat around mid-January. Raj Bhavan’s new occupant Ajay Bhalla is the immediate past Union home secretary who has had a six-year innings in that key post.

The change at the secretariat refers to new top boss of bureaucracy Prashant Kumar Singh who has taken over as chief secretary. What is noteworthy in the two postings by New Delhi is that both have intimate knowledge about the northeast. Bhalla belongs to the Assam- Meghalaya cadre of IAS while for Prashant Singh it is return to the parent cadre of IAS, that is, Manipur where earlier he had worked for 17 years in various state government posts.

The “somewhat better” assessment derives from the two steps taken in recent weeks – extensive reshuffle
involving some 70 senior officials in various disciplines and the setting up of an Integrated anti-extortion cell in the home department with officials drawn from state police, paramilitary forces and the Army. The second action plan follows an assessment that extortion is also a serious law and order issue in Manipur. Recovery of looted arms and ammunition and arrests of militants figure prominently in the priority list. Informed quarters told IPA that the blueprint for scaling up of the third and fourth action plans is being readied. The drive against illegal poppy cultivation is being stepped up; uprooting in 4.8 hectares in Senapati district was accomplished recently.

“Cross-firing has practically stopped”, according to Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president Meghchandra Singh who, however, added that instances of scattered violence are still coming to the fore; one such incident took place at Bishnupur and the victim, a Meitei, had to be hospitalised. Senior functionaries of the Committee of Tribal Unity (Cotu) – chairman Thanglen GSKIK, secretary Lamminlun and spokesperson N G lun – while venting grievances about deployment of Central agreed, however, that “confrontation in buffer zones” has stopped.

At a meeting with the chief secretary on Thursday. Cotu office bearers sought immediate relocation of ‘designated peace camps’ for valley-based insurgent groups from fringe of the hill areas predominantly occupied by the Kuki-Zo community of Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts. Such peace camp arrangement is viewed by Kuki-Zos as “an attempt” to trespass and annexe hills areas by valley-based ultra groups. The Cotu delegation also urged the chief secretary to that a new police station is set up for the Phailengmol area of the Island block which includes 57 villages, some of which were razed by “radical Meitei mob” in the last four days of May 2023 and because of jurisdiction issues the Kangpokpi police could not take care of the “two fallen Kuki-Zo volunteers”.

The chief secretary was also urged to rectify police jurisdiction-related discrepancies in the interest of Kuki-Zo residents of the identified areas. Assistant professor for sociology at Kakching Khunou College M Shantikumar Singh also agreed that in recent days the situation has shown some improvement and educational institutions were functioning normally. But, Prof Singh concurred with PCC chief Meghchandra and AITUC state secretary L Satinkumar that safe return to original residences of the over 60,000 people living in relief camps for a long time is a major challenge for the administration. The Centre is running the show with the help of the Governor who is counting on the experience and advice of the new chief secretary.

“It’s an undeclared President’s rule” Meghchandra told IPA. Satinkumar too shared this view and told IPA: ”It appears the Centre is making full use of Article 355 of the Constitution’ and chief minister Biren Singh is falling in line. He informed that a five-member team from the Communist Party of India met Governor Bhalla some days back and demand a political solution of the intricate Manipur Problem. CPM state secretary Khetrimayum Santa told IPA for sustainable peace in strife-torn Manipur, political reconciliation is
the only answer; administrative action can be more effective if a political solution is reached.

The other significant and mentionable aspect of the current Manipur situation is that the tribal organisations are continuing their ‘contact programmes’ with civil society organisations and political personalities not only in Manipur but also in other places, notably New Delhi. This is, of course, in addition to their interaction with Union government officials. Between January 9 and 21, a team of Kuki-Zo Council members was on their second leg of ‘contact’ programme and held meetings at Aizwal with representatives of tribal outfits and Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma (January 12), with retired bureaucrats, with Kuki- Zo MLAs who were in New Delhi, with New Delhi-based civil society organisation representatives, with Union home ministry officials (January 17) and finally on January 18 with a high-ranking Army official, with whom the home ministry meeting details were shared.

According to informed sources, the home ministry officials impressed upon the Kuki-Zo Council delegation the need for stopping violence for preparing the ground for meaningful discussions on their demands. The first leg was organised on December 7, 2024 at Shillong and in Kangpokpi district. These details have been provided by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, which is described by the organisation as a conglomerate of recognised tribes in Churachandpur district. Earlier from December 23 to 25 a fasting and prayer schedule was organised by Joint Prayer Fellowship, Lamka at Kawnpui for realising the ultimate objective of “a separate administration” (union territory with legislature) for tribals. Those who took part in this programme included, among others, Rev Taring Mama from Arunachal and Bro. Arvind Dais from Goa.