Hounding sentinel of fringe villages
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 22, 2025 -

THE impromptu shutdown of market places and blockade of thoroughfares in Kakching district and elsewhere moments after some Arambai Tenggol members were apprehended by security forces has rung out the message that the general population would not remain as muted spectators if security forces continue to hound genuine protectors of civilians settling in the foothill villages, which both state and central forces fret to foray into, and expose the civilians to high risk of attack by Kuki militants.

Like it or not Arambai Tenggol, commonly referred to as 'AT, rose to prominence only after the Meetei civilians were systematically targeted at Torbung village, which lies in the Bishnupur and Churachandpur district border, after the so-called solidarity march of May 3, 2023 called by the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) to protest a ruling by the Manipur High Court that asked the state government to consider the demand raised for granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Meetei/Meitei community.

The said rally ended peacefully in all other tribal majority districts with exception of those in Kuki dominated areas where Kuki civilians accompanied by well-armed persons, suspected to be cadres of Kuki militant groups, including signatories of the contentious suspension of operation agreement, launched blistering attacks on Meetei villagers besides targeting and torching government offices, an act widely seen as a backlash against the government's war on drugs campaign and the crackdown on illegal poppy cultivation and encroachment in reserved and protected forest areas.

Moreover, prior to outbreak of the conflict, AT existed as one of the socio-cultural organisations advocating revival and promotion of the Meetei culture and traditions. Accepted that some AT members nonchalantly exhibited automatic weapons, which are believed to be the same looted from armouries of state forces, but to the masses AT is the real protector of people settling in the fringe villages.

Had the state or central forces deployed in the state acted in time and prevented the Kuki civilians and militants from causing destruction to public properties then neither would the violence rage nor would the Arambai members resorted to arming themselves to defend the fringe villages.

In short, they are merely serving in the interest of the public.

It is equally important to note here and acknowledged by the state and central authorities that there were no major public demonstrations in-spite of over 100 members of different armed organisations arrested and several arms and ammunition as well as explosive materials recovered during search operations carried out by security forces this month alone.

Thus, the sudden imposition to road blocks and the closure of market places to denounce the arrest of Arambai Tenggol members, who along with the local youths had been donning the role as guardians of the civilians, underscores that the people shall not tolerate highhandedness of the security forces, Manipur police in particular.

The public agitation, eventually called off after release of the detained AT member, might have been limited to closure of business centres and imposition of road blocks but there is strong possibility of the situation turning worse and the state witnessing fresh bout of violent movements in case the security forces do not differentiate between cadres of outlawed organisations and the Arambai Tenggol.

Therefore, whether the Manipur crisis deepens or limps back to normalcy will rest entirely on the wisdom of the policy makers, motive of authorities of the law enforcement agencies and impartial application of the law of the land.

Moreover, security authorities should not ignore the fact that the state's masses are keeping a close watch on their every move.