Dealing with the miscreants
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: December 13, 2023 -

The rising incidence of physical assault and harassment on people belonging to Naga communities in different parts of valley area amidst the tense situation prevailing in the state, which has been roiled by an unprecedented ethnic conflict that broke out between the Meitei/Meetei and Kuki Chin communities since May 3 last, does not auger well for the collective efforts being made for the restoration and peace and normalcy in the strife-torn state.

After the incident of physical assault bn three men belonging to Tangkhul community that took place along the Imphal-Ukhrul Road in Sawombung area of Imphal East district on December 3, the latest incident of two young women belonging to Rongmei community assaulted in Bishnupur district on December 8, has forced the Forum for Restoration of Peace and other like-minded civil society organisations to come out strongly against such mindless acts of assault and unwarranted harassment which may incite hatred among the different communities living in the multi-ethnic society.

Even though these two incidents have been well-documented and given prominent media coverage, it seems there were many other similar incidents that unfortunately did not catch the immediate attention of the media and the general public alike.

Among these lesser-known incidents, convenor of Forum for Restoration of Peace Ashang Kasar and Rongmei Naga Youth Organisation, Manipur (RNYOM) have pointed out the physical assault on a Tamenglong-bound taxi driver that reportedly took place at Khumbong Bazaar in Imphal West district for not paying the money demanded, while Zeliangrong United Committee Manipur Valley and Zeliangrong Civil Organisations (ZCOs) have reminded about the incidents of physical assault and harassment meted out to two young boys who hail from Tamenglong in Kakching district, on another two boys from Tamei in Sekmai area as well as on some students and their parents who were coming down to Imphal from Noney in Patsoi area in the recent past.

As stated earlier, all these incidents of physical assault and harassment do not auger well for the collective efforts being made for the restoration and peace and normalcy in the strife-torn state. Consequent to the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei/Meetei and Kuki-Chin communities, people of all communities in Manipur, irrespective of their stand and position in the ongoing conflict, have been enduring untold sufferings for more than seven months now.

The hardship brought on by the current conflict is no more confined to the daily struggle for survival and eking out livelihood. It has now become a humanitarian crisis that is going to have serious repercussions in every aspect of existence in this tiny state in the days, weeks, months, years and generations to come.

So, every possible effort should be made to ensure that the already tense situation in the state is not aggravated and the miscreants, who are acting otherwise, face the music.

The hard-earned peace effort should not be allowed to be sabotaged by anyone. Prompt action should also be taken up by the Government and its law enforcing agencies to pull up the miscreants, who are trying to create enmity among the people, wittingly or unwittingly.

It needs no reminding to anyone that throughout the course of the ongoing conflict between the Meitei/Meetei and Kuki-Chin communities, people of Naga communities have been maintaining neutrality despite numerous attempts and provocations from various quarters to drag them in.

The resilience shown by the Nagas in the face of these provocations is something that should be not only appreciated but also emulated by everybody.

And, this fact should not be lost on to anyone, least of all, the miscreants, who seem to have started living under the impression that they could get away with any mindless acts of mischief committed amid the current crisis in Manipur.