'Exposing' the nexus in Manipur

Laiphrakpam ongbi Nirmala Laishram *

The explosive revelations of nexus between a Political Party and United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), a Kuki militant organisation in Manipur, has put the ruling regime both in the State and Centre in a tight spot.

It was none other than the Chairman of the UKLF himself who has revealed that he allegedly wrote a letter to the then newly sworn in Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah in 2019, the letter now attached as an Exhibit in the affidavit filed in an NIA Court on June 08, 2023.

The Chairman UKLF, SS Haopkip, has alleged that his outfit and another Kuki group had helped two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in 2017 to win Manipur Assembly Elections which ultimately helped in forming a BJP Govt in Manipur, besides helping the saffron party during 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Manipur.

It was Ram Madhav and Himanta Biswa Sarma then BJP’s in-charge for Manipur, who had made an agreement with the two militant outfits as alleged, which ultimately helped BJP’s presence by forming a coalition Govt in the State for the first time.

Politico-militants nexus is not new in the North East Region where majority of the States are embroiled with insurgency problems, however revelation in the form of a signed affidavit is unprecedented. The allegation is serious and should not be swept under the carpet.

With the State embroiled in ethnic clashes between Kuki-Chin-Zomi tribes and Meitei tribes for more than a month since May 3rd, the primary role in keeping the ‘Pot Boiling’ at the right temperature is by the Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operations (SoO) and Myanmar origin Chin-Kuki militant groups.

They indulge in rampant firing on daily basis with sophisticated armory including area weapons against defenceless Meitei villagers which has caused more than 100 fatal casualties and injuries to 500 plus innocent villagers, the latest being nine people killed in Khamenlok area adjoining Saikul Assembly Constituency and Imphal East District on June 14th. Despite huge chorus by public as well as some elected members of Manipur on daily basis demanding for abrogation of SoO against militant groups for violating CFGR, the Centre remains a mute spectator.

Now with the explosive revelation of nexus between KNLF and BJP during 2017 and 2019 Assembly and General elections, a dark cloud has been cast in the mind of the public that apparently non abrogation of SoO despite unprovoked daily firing by Kuki militant groups is due to the above nexus.

Involvement of Kuki National Front-Burma (KNF-B) and Peoples Defence Force (PDF) in fuelling the fire by killing innocent villagers, looting, arson, torching houses is a well established fact supported by audio visual footages in local electronic media channels.

There have been visual footages of ‘Lungi Clad’ Myanmar based Kuki terrorists, indulging in rampant shooting and other acts of violence in Moreh as well as in Meitei tribe dominated Sagolmang- Khamenlok areas adjoining Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts.

However, the Centre is not accepting the reality by not initiating requisite actions which is unfortunate. The challenge posed by foreign origin Kuki terrorists is serious. A full fledged operation needs to be undertaken to flush them out from their hideouts and eliminate them, else push them back to Myanmar. The action may need taking confidence of Myanmar’s Ruling Regime. Simultaneously investigate if there is involvement of foreign hands. As the situation is grim, it must not be swept under the carpet.

Now that aspersion has been cast on the BJP, the main functionaries of the saffron party for Manipur were then Ram Madhav and Himanta Biswa Sarma presently Chief Minister of Assam, who had made an agreement with the Kuki militant outfits during the 2017 Manipur State Assembly elections.

Doubts have arisen in the public mind that beside UKLF and one more outfit, was there tacit understanding between the BJP and other Kuki militant groups, non-abrogation of SoO despite unprovoked firing by terrorists speak volume of this lingering doubt. Equally is the functioning of some troops of Assam Rifles deployed in Manipur, friends of the hill people, while dealing during the present unfortunate ugly ethnic clash between Chin-Kukis plus Myanmar origin militant groups against Meitei tribe.

If one of the major mandates of Security Forces deployed in Manipur is to rein in and take punitive actions against militant groups who violate SoO, why does some Assam Rifles Forces deployed in Manipur remain silent spectators or undertake unpleasant actions like what was done by blocking the entry and exit with Casspir bullet proof vehicles at Sugnu police station, which is losing confidence in functioning of this oldest Central Para Military Force of the country amongst the Meitei community.

It is well understood that some of the cadres of SoO Kuki militant groups are used by the Assam Rifles as a source for providing information about other active militant /insurgent groups in Manipur. However, during this ‘trying condition’ the Force need to operate in equal playing fields. They are not only required to operate without partiality and without any favours but need to be shown the same in the eyes of public.

Have they too become a “caged parrot”, like some Central police and investigating agencies ? The Force must live up to the expectations and rich traditions and not succumb to any pressure at all.

The allegation about politico-terrorists nexus must be investigated at the earliest and if false, initiate stringent action against the Chairman of UKLF. Sweeping the serious allegations under the carpet will result into casting aspersions by other Nations on the Great Democracy of our Nation which at its ‘Jannat’.