Manipur Fires to Impact National Security

The emerging scenario in Manipur begs questions to be asked about the country’s security in addition to the political calculus in the sensitive northeast of the country

China has been arming insurgents of northeast India over the past several decades. In addition, it has also established credible proxies in Myanmar. China trained and armed the Peoples’ Liberation of Army (PLA) of Manipur. ⁽¹⁾ Concurrent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing the ‘Act East Policy’ in 2015, Chinese intelligence established the United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW) in Myanmar; bringing together the United Liberation Front of Assam, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland. ⁽²⁾

The Myanmar-based Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) is headed by a Pakistan-born terrorist having links to Pakistan (ISI and Lashkar-e-Taiba) and Saudi Arabia. ⁽³⁾ In this backdrop, Manipur has been burning since 3^rd May, with 131 killed and 5,036 cases of arson till 24^th June. According to media, “more than” 50,000 are displaced, thousands of homes (including places of worship) have been attacked, damaged, burnt, shops and businesses vandalised, with around 50,000 people in 349 relief camps. The Union Home Minister says there is need for caution because any move can have adverse effect in the volatile situation in the region.

Of the 1,643 km-long India-Myanmar border, Manipur shares a border of 398 km with Myanmar. Hence, the Union Home Minister now saying that 10 km fencing of the Manipur-Myanmar is completed and “tendering” for 80 km done is no consolation, for any one. ⁽⁴⁾

China has been arming insurgents of northeast India over the past several decades. In addition, it has also established credible proxies in Myanmar

The claim that no one has been killed after 13^th June is untrue because on the night of 14-15 June, nine people were killed in violence. ⁽⁵⁾ Also, surrender of 1,800 weapons is hardly comforting when initial reports stated 4,500 weapons looted though the ground reports say that the weapons were “distributed”, not looted. Photographs of surrendered weapons are of archaic variety.

To top this, an impression is being created that China is not interested to exploit the Manipur situation. How then are Myanmar-based terrorists operating in Manipur? How are sophisticated weapons being seen when weapons of Kuki militant groups, under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement in Manipur remain intact in designated camps. ⁽⁶⁾

On 16^th June, media reported a mob near Manipur University, including women, in military-style fatigue and khaki dresses with “sophisticated weapons” arriving in trucks and LMVs; displaying their firearms and explosives openly. Who provided these sophisticated weapons? Who is circulating videos alleging the Army is helping the Kuki Nagas against the Assam Rifles battalion deployed in Imphal Valley – is it state-sponsored to incite Meitei? ⁽⁷⁾

On 24^th June, the Army nabbed 12 terrorists of KYKL (Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup) including self-styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam with arms, ammunition and ammunition stores, but were forced to hand back the KYKL terrorist to a mob of 1200-1500, led by women. Tamba masterminded the KYKL ambush on 6 DOGRA convoy on 4^th June 2015, killing 18 soldiers. Consequently, our Special Forces raided the KYKL camp inside Myanmar to avenge the killings. KYKL are Meitei terrorists and so was the women-led mob that forced the Army to hand back the terrorists.

Most would say it is shameful to hand back the KYKL terrorists, especially Tamba, as this will lead to terrorists using women as shields in future, and we are in serious trouble if writ of the Army fails

Most would say it is shameful to hand back the KYKL terrorists, especially Tamba, as this will lead to terrorists using women as shields in future, and we are in serious trouble if writ of the Army fails. But should we really believe the Army would hand back the terrorists, especially Tamba, of their own volition? The least they would have done was to move the terrorists out with weapons drawn and ready for a possible firefight.

In December 2022, an armed mob surrounded and attacked a Special Forces (SF) team near Oting Village in Nagaland, shooting dead one SF soldier and injuring 14 SF personnel including an officer. ⁽⁸⁾ The SF fired in self-defence, killing seven mobsters and injuring some others but extricated themselves along with two injured civilians. The SF team had enough ammunition to kill the entire armed mob but did not do so.

The Army has not degenerated to the extent that it would not avenge their comrades fallen to terrorist ambush. The conclusion one can, therefore draw, is that orders to handover the KYKL terrorists possibly came from Delhi. This should not surprise readers; this has happened in the past in the northeast, as also in the Maoists-insurgency belt as reported by CRPF personnel on social media. One has to read in between the lines to experience the anguish in the 243-worded tweet by the Army’s Spear Corps, in whose area of responsibility ambush on the 6 Dogra took place.⁽⁹⁾

In 2014, five youth travelling in a civilian vehicle in Kupwara area of J&K fired upon soldiers when their vehicle jumped one check-post and similarly jumped the next check-post in a bid to flee, despite being challenged at both the check-points. The youth died in the ensuing firing. Within minutes the then defence minister tweeted that the soldiers would be punished; as the assembly elections were coming up in the state! One JCO and six other ranks manning the second check post on bonafide duty, opening fire based on valid reasons, were subjected to Summary Court Martial. The newly joined Northern Army Commander was “ordered” to apologise for the killings. The prime minister publicly boasted that for the first time in 30 years Indian Army admitted its mistake in wrongful killing of Kashmiri youth and filed cases against its personnel.⁽¹⁰⁾

The Army has not degenerated to the extent that it would not avenge their comrades fallen to terrorist ambush. The conclusion one can, therefore draw, is that orders to handover the KYKL terrorists possibly came from Delhi

The question should not be what punishment was meted out to the JCO and six others, but in which direction our politicians are headed just in order to win elections. The US has been using terrorists to advance their national interests. Looking at Manipur, are we using terrorists within our own country to target another community for petty electoral gains?

Today the question is when the country is gripped in the self-induced epidemic of polarisation, are the happenings in Manipur, especially hard core KYKL terrorists being set free, an indication of the worse that is to follow – leading to next year’s Lok Sabha elections and beyond?

The violence that erupted in Manipur, following the Manipur High Court directive to the State Government on 3rd June to recommend to the Centre grant of ST status to Meiteis and the consequent protest march by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur is already in public domain. Meiteis, around 53% of Manipur’s population, mostly inhabit Imphal Valley. Ethnic Naga and Kuki and Zomi tribes (24% and 16% of the population respectively) inhabit the surrounding hills. Manipur Assembly has 40 MLAs from Imphal Valley and 20 are from the hills; making it Meitei predominant. Some Meitei communities are already in SC or OBC lists. Grant of ST status to all Meiteis means practically the entire population of Manipur in the reserved lists.

The US has recently banned caste based admissions in educational institutions but our politicians have no inhibitions in increasing reservations to benefit themselves. Politicians want insurgencies to continue notwithstanding the political announcements and platitudes, incite rioting and polarise communities to extract political power any which way.

The question should not be what punishment was meted out to the JCO and six others in Kupwara incident, but in which direction our politicians are headed just in order to win elections

Before the 3rd May rioting in Manipur, the chief minister faced accusations of expelling tribes from their villages, demolishing decades-old churches in Imphal, and classifying majority tribal settlements as “reserved forests”, which deems the indigenous inhabitants as illegal immigrants. Tribal legislators of Manipur claim the state administration has “polarised” Manipur communities over the last few years; a recent flashpoint being eviction of villagers in Churachandpur District after classifying it as reserve forest land

The recent six-hour drama by CM Biren Singh ending in tearing up his resignation indicates debate within the ruling party whether sacking him or not would be beneficial in the next general elections, perhaps also unsure how to deal with the Frankenstein of polarisation. Ironically, no worthwhile discussion on the Manipur crisis can be expected in the coming monsoon session of Parliament; given the usual cacophony with rowdy ones shunted out, opposition walkouts, and the like.

Finally, not only does the Manipur crisis require an early political solution, our national hierarchy needs to get much more serious about national security, including threats we face from the East. We have not even settled our borders with Myanmar and have landed ourselves in a situation where we can’t undertake joint counter-terrorist operations with Myanmar.