Moreh CSOs pitch for exit of commandos, gunmen attack
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 14, 2023 -

At a time when rationale and motive for impromptu road block agitations by women vigilantes (meira paibi) in the valley districts, aimed at preventing movement of central forces, are under the scanner of authorities of security establishments and critically revision by the national media, the Moreh incident of 3-4 gunmen attempting to slay police commandos in civvies on Wednesday few days after activists of Moreh-based Kuki women’s organisations staged sit-in protest against deployment of commando personnel in the border town brings to the fore sharp division in the society as well as divergent percept on role of state and central forces.

Though the two commando personnel escaped the life attempt with minor injuries, it is the revelation by some of their colleagues about higher authorities prohibiting movement outside the post to even save the injured duo which merits attention of the government.

As Moreh is one of the towns worst-affected by the on-going ethnic violence, stringent security measures should have been put in place to prevent unwanted incidents.

However, the audacity of the gunmen to attack the commando personnel in broad daylight leaves nothing to doubt about miscreants dictating terms in Moreh town, from where the entire Meetei civilian population has been dislodged within the first few days of outbreak of the ethnic violence.

Even more disturbing is that Wednesday’s incident happened after Kuki Women Union and Human Rights Moreh (KWU and HR) organised a sit-in protest on July 7 demanding the removal of police commandos from Moreh police station.

It’s a pity to learn that Manipur police commandos, who successfully spearheaded the counter-insurgency operation, weren’t allowed to venture out to chase the Kuki militants as they were not granted permission by the officers concerned.

As disclosed by some commando personnel deployed at Moreh town, they have been prohibited from stepping out of the commando post for over two months since the May 3 clashes with the airlifted newly transferred personnel also barred by Kuki populace settling near the AR camp where the helipad is located, to report t:o their place of posting.

Equally disturbing is the report that the route to Moreh via Tengnoupal area remains blocked by the Kuki agitators.

While similar roadblocks for few minutes or hours in the valley would have definitely raised eyebrows of many, central security authorities seem the least worried about disturbance caused to the law enforcing machinery in Moreh for reasons best known to them.

Wednesday’s incident could be merely coincidental but one can’t help but suspect deeper conspiracy to take complete control of one of the logistically important trade and commerce hubs of Manipur and ultimately facilitate infiltration of illegal immigrants from the neighbouring Myanmar to strengthen the position of the Chin-Kuki community.

Compared to the Moreh-based organisations as well as Kuki residents branding police commandos as communal forces and preventing their movement evoking no comment or response from central forces to shield the hapless commando personnel, meira paibi activists and valley-womenfolk are being projected as partisan and elements detrimental to the efforts for restoration of normalcy whenever the latter stage street protest to denounce attacks on Meetei villages in the peripheral areas.

Moreover, the attempt to see the exit of police commandos from Moreh could be part of the ploy to pave the way from the Chin-Kuki militant outfits to replenish the stock of arms and ammunition from across the border to mount pressure on the government to cede to the separate administration demand.