Effectiveness of deploying central forces on hill ranges
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: January 04, 2025 -

SUBSEQUENT to deployment of central para-military forces on the hilltop nearby Saibol village in Kangpokpi district, from where suspected Kuki militants used to rain bullets and bombs on the Meetei settlements along the foothills, there has been notable cessation of firing incidents in the area.

As stopping the violence at any cost is what villagers in the fringe areas have been demanding for the past many months, the commoners would be hoping that the central forces do not let their guard down but continue to maintain top vigil and neutralise any attempt to cause harm to the villagers, who are looking forward to resume agricultural activities.

To the civilian population, it's obvious that the on-going blame-game between the ruling and the opposition parties on the Manipur crisis wouldn't be of any interest as long as the security forces succeed in preventing exchange of firing among the warring communities and there is no disturbance caused to their livelihood activities.

However, amidst the semblance of peace in the fringe villages, there has been an unmissable tirades between chief minister N Biren and leaders of the Congress and the CPI with the latter contending that Biren must be sacked to pave the path for return of peace in the state.

Interestingly, in-spite of expressing regret for the on-going ethnic crisis in the state and apologising for the violence raging in its aftermath, N Biren on Wednesday attributed the present turmoil to the 'past sins' of the Congress, reminding the grand old party that Myanmar refugees found permanent settlement in the state during its rule.

Reacting to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's now trademark poser on why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not visiting Manipur and apologising to the people for the strife in the state after N Biren expressed remorse that the violence has caused immense hardships to the people, Biren took to X retorting that everyone, including 'yourself' (Ramesh), is aware that Manipur is in turmoil today because of the past sins committed by the Congress, such as the repeated settlement of Burmese refugees in Manipur and the signing of the SoO agreement with Myanmar-based militants in the state, spearheaded by P Chidambaram during his tenure as the Home Minister of India.

Biren further clarified that his apology was a sincere expression of grief for the displaced people, urging forgiveness, stating that the apology tendered was a sincere act of expressing grief for the people who have been left displaced and rendered homeless.

Joining the political slugfest, the CPI claimed that the apology tendered by N Biren over ethnic strife in the state was not enough, and demanded his resignation.

Apart from stating that the crisis in Manipur underscores 'absolute breakdown of governance', the Left party also accused the state government of failing to maintain law and order, protect citizens and ensure justice leading to widespread suffering and insecurity.

While it is obvious that the political adversaries will continue to accuse one another till solution could be brought to the conflict, the main concern for the villagers in the fringe areas would be enforcement of effective measures to prevent gunfights as they are the hardest hit section of the society, and hope that those helming the affairs would realise effectiveness of deploying security forces along the hill ranges nearest to the valley districts in containing the violence as is evident from the Saibol (Uyokching) experience.