It's time to act and stop mollycoddling
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 10, 2024 -

STRANGE as it may sound, but the analogy of "distributing mosquito nets instead of spraying insecticide to prevent malaria transmission during outbreak of the vector-borne disease," seems to perfectly sum up the present situation in the strife-torn northeastern Indian state of Manipur, where "a significant escalation" in the violent activities carried out by armed Kuki-Chin militants has been witnessed of late.

This analogy has been drawn up by Thawai Mirel in its response to deployment of drone jammers by the security forces instead of cracking down on the Kuki-Chin militants, who are using weaponised drones to kill unarmed civilians.

As a civil society organisation which has been at the forefront of highlighting the issues being faced by the people since the outbreak of the Meetei/Meitei and Kuki-Chin conflict on May 3 last year, Thawai Mirel has rightly slammed the approach of Government of India towards the prevailing unrest situation in Mnaipur by likening it to distributing mosquito nets to prevent misquote bites without taking action to eradicate mosquitoes spreading malaria.

Deployment of drone jammers by the security forces instead of launching a crackdown on Kuki-Chin militants even after deadly aerial bombings have been carried out on civilian populations and security posts with use of weaponised drones and firing of long-range surface to surface-to-surface missiles/rockets, even if they were locally made, is nothing but a superficial act rather than a comprehensive solution.

It is not going to help in anyway in the effort of curbing the increasing menace of Kuki-Chin militants nor it is going to boost the confidence of the people over the capabilities of security forces to protect their lives and properties.

On the contrary, such half-hearted efforts would only embolden the Kuki-Chin militants, who are now openly challenging the internal security and stability of not only Manipur but also of India with their eyes firmly set on realising their "Zalengam" dream by curving out territories from India, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

When the Meetei/Meitei and Kuki-Chin conflict is only escalating and the situation is taking a turn for the worse, it is becoming beyond the understanding of not just the common men and women on the streets but also of the security experts and political analysts as to why the Government of India is yet to act and take a definite decision on resolving the over 16 months long humanitarian crisis in Manipur.

The conflict between the Meetei/Meitei and Kuki-Chin communities has so far led to loss of hundreds of precious human lives and displacement of thousands of families on both sides of the clash divide, apart from causing suffering to people of other communities living in this multi-ethnic state but have been wise enough to maintain neutrality from taking side with any of the warring communities.

As we have commented through this column time and again, even if the Government of India is the one which has nurtured and groomed the Kuki-Chin militant groups as a counter measure to the growing Naga and Meetei/Meitei militancy in the 90s, Kuki-Chin militant groups have today grown into a Frankenstein's monster, big and strong enough to take on its own creator.

In the current conflict in Manipur, the increasing aggression of Kuki-Chin militants, who do not even have any qualm over using weaponised drones to conduct aerial bombings on civilian populations and security posts or firing long-range surface to surface-to-surface missiles/rockets indiscriminately, is a classic example of the proverbial saying of "spare the rod, spoil the child".

By sparing the rod that could have been used to chastise it, the Government of India has only allowed the monster it created in the form of Kuki-Chin militant groups to grow stronger and bolder by remaining indecisive from taking any strong action.

It is time for the Government of India to stop mollycoddling the Kuki-Chin militants, who are ready to bite the hand that feeds them.