Onus on security forces to prevent escalation of violence
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 23, 2023 -

AMID the intermittent firing incidents in the peripheral villages and growing distrust between the security forces and the general population, two kids, including a minor, suffering injuries in an IED explosion in a Muslim-dominated area on the same day the minority community launched protest demonstrations to denounce threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur and Naga civil organisations coming out strongly against the torching of a house at Leimakhong Chingmang village close to the 57 Mountain Division garrison could be an indication that the conflict is getting worse with each passing day.

Notwithstanding the recent remarks by chief of army staff Manoj Pande that the violence is not related to insurgency but is a clash between two communities and authorities of central security forces also seemingly satisfied with carrying out humanitarian activities to aid the violence-affected communities instead of cracking down on the perpetrators, there is every reason to believe that Manipur will be witnessing gunfights for a protracted period.

As on date only the Meeteis and Kukis are involved in the clashes but there is no guarantee that communities, who have been maintaining neutrality, might not get embroiled in the conflict, as could be comprehended from influential Naga organisations and civil bodies of the violence-affected Liangmai tribe issuing stern warning against intimidating and targeting the Naga villages and civilians.

As there had been few instances of unwanted incidents occurring in or around villages settled by other minority Naga tribes, it is feared that recurrence of such violence will snap the level of tolerance of a third party.

With United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women Union (NWU), All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Liangmai organisations condemning the torching of a Naga house at Leimakhong Chingmang by armed Kukis on June 18 and categorically stating that the Naga house was targeted intentionally, one would only hope that the apology tendered by a local Kuki women’s organisation would be acceptable to the aggrieved parties.

The Naga organisations’ assertion that such heinous crime tantamount to direct challenge to the Nagas at large underscore the strong disillusionment among the Naga community, whose interests and collective aspirations are being propagated by armed organisations which have fire and manpower no less than any of the two communities in conflict.

Disenchantment among the Naga organisations over torching the house already tagged ‘Naga’ could also be comprehended from the bodies raising posers over the ‘premeditated’ attack by armed Kukis close to a military garrison.

Such aspersions cast on the central security forces is not for the first time since outbreak of the ethnic violence and shall possibly be not the last unless those entrusted with the task to protect civilian lives and properties win over the people’s trust through proactive involvement in preventing the violence and taking visible action against the culprits involved.

It needs no reminding that the situation will only aggravate in case the security forces do not penalise the provokers for it is now crystal clear that none of the parties in conflict believe that initiative of the ‘untrustworthy’ political class to court the central leaders will bring peace in the state.