Onus on state to rake in peace time bonus
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: March 27, 2023 -

REGARDLESS of the prevailing threat perception, vis-a-vis insurgency movement, expansion of AFSPA-free area in the state could be construed as the central leaders keeping faith in the N Biren-led government to further promote peace and development.

While near-total cessation of insurgency-related incidents in the valley districts in the last few years is the primary factor for the centre to periodically review the situation and announce gradual phasing out of the pro-military law, the state remaining relatively free from any serious socio-ethnic incidents is another index for the government to experiment with by lifting the workload off the shoulders of the men in uniform as well as endorsing the public's yearning to live life in a secured environment.

The centre's decision to continue with the disturbed area tag in the whole of hill districts might spark outrage from hill-based tribal organisations as the law and situation in these areas too have been largely under control;

However, recent incidents of bomb explosions right in the heart of Ukhrul town and presence of elements waging war against the establishment in the interior corners of the hill districts might be some compelling factors for the centre to refrain from making the same experiment as in the plains.

Nevertheless, latest decision to reduce area classified as disturbed under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur with effect from April 1, 2023 indicates resolve of the central leaders to do away with the erstwhile hostile profile of the northeast region and to pave the path for bringing development.

In Manipur, the disturbed area notification under AFSPA has been withdrawn from police stations of Leimakhong, Nambol, Moirang and Wangoi thereby increasing the number of AFSPA-free area in the state, where 15 police stations and IMC areas were already technically considered as safe.

Apart from attributing the centre's decision to lift AFSPA to significant improvement in the security situation in the North-eastern region, Union home minister Amit Shah said that peace has been restored in the region after several peace accords were implemented in these states in the last four years.

Interestingly, the decision comes in the wake of the government of Manipur withdrawing from the suspension of operation agreement signed with two conglomerates of Kuki armed outfits on the ground that these groups are involved in activities detrimental to government policies and inciting the people.

Weeks after withdrawing from the pact, the centre is yet to a make a call on its own, thereby hinting that it is according more importance in maximising the number of the armed outfits under peace treaties.

Such gestures could also mean that the centre is nudging the regional governments, Manipur in particular, to focus on expediting infrastructure development projects and bringing economic prosperity so as to impress upon the youth that they have a brighter future by being a part of the developmental process and not through waging war against the establishment.

As the centre has been funding and assuring various projects, the onus is on the state government to complement such benevolent attitude by ensuring the people do not struggle for basic necessities of life.