Manipur: BJP runs out of ideas

Stray incidents of arson, and gun firing by unidentified persons (termed as speculative firing by security personnel) continue unabated in Manipur even two months since ethnic violence gripped the north-eastern state sharing its borders with Myanmar.

While no single reason can be attributed to the violence there is no doubt that the BJP-led state and central governments have totally failed in restoring peace and normalcy.

Quite expectedly though, despite scathing criticism and mounting pressure to resign and pave the way for President’s rule, chief minister N Biren Singh has remained adamant while PM Modi has maintained a stoic silence ever since violence erupted on May 4th.

Though as the India chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Modi was vocal on curbing and condemning cross-border terrorism, he unabashedly has remained unperturbed by the developments in Manipur, including the killing of a tribal woman today.

Some under-reported facts have emerged in this twomonth civil war-like situation, though it has been termed as ethnic violence. Across the Imphal valley, Kuki survivors identified their attackers as the “boys in black shirts”, a reference to the uniforms of Arambai Tenggol, a shadowy Meitei group that was barely known in the state until it rose to prominence during the clashes last month.

Less than a year back, on August 16, pictures of a meeting with Biren Singh appeared on Arambai Tenggol’s Facebook page. Also featured in the pictures was Manipur’s sole Rajya Sabha member, Leishemba Sanajaoba.

Members of the Arambai Tenggol have said the titular king, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the BJP, is their founder and leader. Arambai Tenggol means “dart-wielding cavalry” in a reference to traditional Meitei warriors.

Embossed on the back of the outfit’s uniform of black T-shirts are three ponyriding warriors. In several areas, videos show mobs hoisting the “Salai Taret” flag on buildings they attacked. The multi-coloured Salai Taret flag represents each of the seven Meitei Salais or clans.

On the other hand, Meitei groups have charged the Centre and the Assam Rifles, which helm counter-insurgency operations, of going soft on Kuki groups.

Their claim is that armed cadres, officially restricted to designated camps under a Suspension of Operations agreement with the Central government, are out terrorising Meiteis in the foothills.

A video of the Manipur police accompanying a mob, many of whom are wearing the Arambai Tenggol’s colours as they approach the Kuki locality of Haokip Veng in Imphal on May 4, offers clear evidence of the collusion recounted in eyewitnes accounts.

One reason ascribed for the police complicity is the composition of the force in which most police commandos are Meitei.

What is being termed by the double-engine dispensation as ethnic violence may soon escalate into a full-fledged civil war, fuelled by the loss of agricultural crops leading to food security.

Farmers were unable to cultivate at least 5,127 hectares of agricultural land, leading to a loss of 15,437.23 metric tonnes till June 28.

As per estimation, in addition to an annual deficit of 2 lakh metric tonnes of food grain in the state, the imminent loss of 30-40,000 metric tonnes will be detrimental to initiatives for realisation of the goal of a self-sufficient state.