First hand account of Manipur violence

Maj (Retd.) Rajkumar Jhaljit Singh (Waari Singbul Network)
Contd from previous issue
Spending time with Meira Paibis at 2 am and seeking their blessings is a testament to the respect and admiration that their sacrifices and efforts deserve. They are a source of strength and resilience for Manipur and its people.
The level of stress borne by the Women Folks (Meira Paibis) in Manipur is unimaginable. Whenever our motherland Manipur and its people faced danger, they pledge to defend and stand up against injustices, whether it was against the British Empire, which experienced the first Women War in 1905, forcing the mighty British Empire to abolish Forced Labor, or the revolt against illegal taxes. They played a significant role in controlling drug-related issues in the State.
We had an opportunity to interact with various civil society and eminent personalities during our visit including Lt. Gen (Retd.) L. Nishikanta, Ms. Rami Niranjan Desai and Dr. Arambam Noni. We met with some intellectuals and leaders from the Congress Party at Manipur Congress Bhavan to understand their perspective on the ongoing violence and how we can work towards the progressive development of the state. One message we received from the Congress leaders is that this is time for us to unite and speak in one voice to protect the integrity of Manipur and pro- mote its progressive development. They also pre- sen- ted a book as memorabilia, which means a lot to us.
We also had the opportunity to meet with the Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren, on September 12 and shared the challenges and hardships faced by the public. He graciously engaged with us for over two and half hours, addressing many of our concerns. One specific question we asked was about ending the violence immediately, to which he responded, "It will happen when both communities give up violence and give peace a chance."
The Chief Minister emphasized the commitment of both the Central Government and the State Government to restore peace. They have implemented measures to control the proliferation of weapons, especially among Chin-Kuki militants.
For the first time, we felt that the Chief Minister had a comprehensive plan for the development of the State and for restoring peace. He shared both tactical and strategic measures for permanently restoring peace. He is sensitive to the needs of both communities and reiterated that the fight is not between two communities but between the Govt and Narco-Terrorists.
He acknowledged that the violence is not communal but extremely complex, involving narco-terrorist organizations supported by external vested parties. He described it as an act of war, making it extremely challenging to control, unlike any communal violence or law and order situation. The Government is extremely cautious when civilians are involved, striving to avoid casualties and collateral damage. The CM appealed to the public, especially women-folk, not to enter areas where security operations are underway is a crucial step in maintaining safety. It underscores the importance of civilian cooperation in ensuring that the operations can be conducted with minimal risk to non-combatants. Additionally, his call for the public not to engage in protest demonstrations without a clear objective was aimed at helping maintain law and order and prevent unintended consequences.
Regarding the implementation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the Valley districts, it is noteworthy that the Chief Minister mentioned it was withdrawn by his party but noted that its reinstatement is subject to the prevailing law-and-order conditions. This reflects a nuanced approach to security measures, taking into account the evolving situation and the need to balance security with the rights and well-being of the people. As the situation worsened it got enforced, however it must be highlighted that this was not enforced in jurisdiction under 19 police stations. Collaboration and collective efforts are crucial in addressing the complex issues facing the region and in working towards a more peaceful and stable future for Manipur. We will do our bit in and look forward to the implementation of the constructive measures by the CM and Manipur Govt.
In conclusion, it is essential to consider the conse- quences of violence and ponder on who stands to gain from it. It is high time for both communities to give peace a chance. The violence only leads to loss, not just for the society but for both communities. The violence has taken away all the development initiatives, including the vision of PM Modi to make Manipur a corridor to East Asia, which is a loss for the entire society.