Abduction tamasha on peace turf : Reaping dividends of 'peace'
- Sangai Express Editorial :: August 14, 2013 -

Abducting for ransom. A thriving business no doubt.

Dacoits then operating in the bad lands of the Chambal valley practised this. The underworld too.

Transpose this situation to Manipur, and it would be a transformation from the dacoits to the cadres and from the underworld to the underground.

Underworld or underground, cadres or dacoits, money, correction, easy money, is the common denomination.

There is however a discernible difference that should not escape the observation of the common people.

While the dacoits and the underworld abduct for ransom without any pretences, here in Manipur, the underground groups do this under a cloak, a cloak which comes under the name of taking up a struggle on behalf of the people.

And so it is that Manipur has been at the receiving end of some of these sons of the soil, who can abduct, plant a bomb, summon officials and traders to a designated place and then extract their pound of flesh, in the name of taking up a cause for the people.

Diluting or polluting the essence of a 'cause', nothing less.

The recent abduction of seven persons, including Engineers from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and two from outside the State by Kuki militants is a case in point.

That the seven persons have been released unharmed is a different matter, but what has been left unsaid and unacknowledged is not only the ransom amount paid for their safe release but also about the politics of underground movement, which has come to centre more and more on money and money.

That the Suspension of Operation pact signed between the Government of India, Government of Manipur and Kuki militant outfits under the two umbrella organisations of the KNO and UPF has only gone to add to speculations and a degree of confusion needs no elaboration.

As things stand today, two other officers of the Horticulture Department have been abducted, again most probably by Kuki militants a few days back. Details are not forthcoming, but the design woven around the two cases of abduction cannot be missed.

Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam who also holds the Home portfolio had gone on record and stated that the involvement of groups under the SoO pact in the abduction cases cannot be ruled out.

This is a strong statement and surely the politician in Gaikhangam would not have delivered such a statement without some evidences or leads.

In cases such as abduction for ransom or serving extortion notices, involvement of groups can be at different levels and can take different dimensions.

Stretch this argument a little bit and it could well mean that cadres of an armed group which is under the SoO pact may not be directly involved in the abduction cases but may be utilising the services of another group and backing them with logistic support.

The spoils may then be split according to the agreement worked out. This is not mere speculation or shooting in the dark, for the mechanism of peace pact and implementation of ground rules invariably comes with its dose of politics.

Real politiks at work here. And it goes without saying that this politics serves the interest of the establishment as well as the armed groups.

Trumpet peace as an achievement, a feather to be added to the hat of the Government and give a long rope to the armed groups to indulge in its activities.

Dividends which can be reaped by both sides without much ado.

The question now is, the Deputy Chief Minister has already gone on record and stated that involvement of groups under the SoO pact in the abduction cases cannot be ruled out.

Should the Government just stop at this and expect the people to watch the tamasha being played out on the peace turf ?

Corrective measures should be taken up and pronto and even as this commentary is being put to ink, there are questions over the 'rescue' line put up by the Deputy Chief Minister on the release of the Horticulture officers.