Why not task the two Kuki Ministers ? End the hostage crisis
|
This is a hostage crisis and it is only terrorists or those who believe in terrorism who go to the extent of holding anyone captive and lay down terms in exchange for the release of the hostage/s. Sounds like something straight out of a Hollywood flick where terrorists under different names and garbs are portrayed to hijack planes, buildings and even hotels in pursuit of a demand, which may be political or pecuniary, but this is not any flick but real life and scripting this hostage tale is a bunch of gun toting elements who have been holding two youths captive since the evening of September 27. Kangpokpi is the district where the two are being held captive for the last 6 days and in just a couple of hours it will be a week since their capture. Like other terror outfits, those holding the two youths captive are understood to have raised the demand that a certain roguish element, a man who has been accused of waging war against the Nation be released in exchange for the two youths. Intelligence reports coming in from Delhi and which have been carried by News18 have pointed out that discussions are underway to secure the release of the two youths, expressing optimism that things will unfold positively. Think positive and pray for the best is the only thing that the parents and the people of Manipur can cling on to at the moment, for the fact stands that even after Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly been sounded to secure the release of the two youths, there is no indication that they would be released anytime soon. What is the way forward ? No one seems to know and no one knows for sure whether the Union Home Minister has got in touch with the abductors or the leaders of the Kuki-Zo community to spell out the stand of the Government. This is where one is reminded of the public announcement of the All Manipur United Club Organisation (AMUCO) that a mere phone call from the Union Home Minister would be enough to get the two youths freed. The point is whether the Union Home Minister has got in touch with anyone in Kangpokpi, particularly leaders of the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) or not. As announced by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh has been personally tasked with the job of securing the release of the two youths and while the police officer is said to have visited Kangpokpi twice in the last three days there has been no official report on who he has met and to whom he has communicated the need to release the two youths. Safety of the two youths, is one reason that has been spelt out on why there has been no large scale military action, according to the Intelligence inputs, as shared by News18, but this does not answer the question of whether there has been any communication from the office of the Union Home Ministry to bodies like CoTU or not.
Thoubal has taken to the streets for two straight days to up the pressure on Imphal to secure the release of the two youths but it is more than obvious that there is nothing much that the State Government can do, except puts its best foot forward to convince Delhi to get its act together. The question is whether Imphal has it in them to put its case strongly before Delhi or not. The equation should be simple enough. The Government of India is in a Suspension of Operation pact with the Kuki armed groups and this is where pressure needs to be mounted on Delhi to crackdown on the Kuki militants and secure the release of the two youths. Moreover there are still two Kukis in the Council of Ministers and this is the right time for the Chief Minister to use their service to secure the release of the two youths. The State Government must also be aware which of the Kuki armed groups have a strong presence in Kangpokpi district. This is where one is constrained to ask whether the State Government is putting on its best effort to secure the release of the hostages or not. Asking its Ministers to act positively in the case should not be beyond the reach of the State Government. The Sangai Express has always resisted from asking why the two Kuki MLAs should continue to be in the Council of Ministers when they have openly raised the demand for a Separate Administration and since the two continue to be very much Ministers, it is time to ask them to use their reach and influence now.
Thoubal has taken to the streets for two straight days to up the pressure on Imphal to secure the release of the two youths but it is more than obvious that there is nothing much that the State Government can do, except puts its best foot forward to convince Delhi to get its act together. The question is whether Imphal has it in them to put its case strongly before Delhi or not. The equation should be simple enough. The Government of India is in a Suspension of Operation pact with the Kuki armed groups and this is where pressure needs to be mounted on Delhi to crackdown on the Kuki militants and secure the release of the two youths. Moreover there are still two Kukis in the Council of Ministers and this is the right time for the Chief Minister to use their service to secure the release of the two youths. The State Government must also be aware which of the Kuki armed groups have a strong presence in Kangpokpi district. This is where one is constrained to ask whether the State Government is putting on its best effort to secure the release of the hostages or not. Asking its Ministers to act positively in the case should not be beyond the reach of the State Government. The Sangai Express has always resisted from asking why the two Kuki MLAs should continue to be in the Council of Ministers when they have openly raised the demand for a Separate Administration and since the two continue to be very much Ministers, it is time to ask them to use their reach and influence now.