Manipur, Manipur, Our dear 'Eigi-Manipur' is in turmoil once again. The Flames of the People's anger over the capturing and the subsequent killing of one Th. Manorama Devi by the Assam Rifles seem to be spreading like an 'Untamed Wild Forest fire' with dharnas, rallies and sit-in-protest organized at various places of the state. And the flames of the people anger seems to be burning higher with each passing day, doused by the Assam Rifles indifferent attitude towards the whole affair.

The Killing of Manorama Devi, in the custody of the Assam Rifles personnel, has raised many unanswered questions. Though, the Assam Rifles, on their part claimed that Manorama Devi was not just an ordinary woman, but a hardcore militant of the PLA, and one who has been involved in a series of I.E.D blasts resulting in the injury and deaths of many civilians and members of the security forces, and sort of justified their 'fatal actions' taken on her.

Whatever may be the case, the 'Naked Truth' is that the Security Forces in the name of curbing insurgency will continue to play havoc with people's life -Militant or Non-Militant, as long as the Draconian Law Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFPSA) is imposed on the state of Manipur and its people. The Government and the Administration on their part has been stripped naked, and their clueless ness exposed on how to deal with this sensitive and complicated situation which could flare up and go out of bounds if rubbed the wrong way.

The Women Folks on their part deserved a standing ovation and all the applause for the bold and daring steps they have taken to show their anger and resentment towards the Indian Army who have tortured raped and executed one of their kind. The 'Naked Protest' launched by the group of bold Women of Manipur made headlines in the major National and Regional Newspapers across the length and breadth of the Country. Needless to say the Women's voice of protest was clearly heard, and shook the Nation, and turned the attention of the thinking Mainland Indians towards the unfolding events in the state of Manipur. With one question apparent on their mind 'What made the women of Manipur so bold as to strip bare naked to get across their point?'

When I first caught a glimpse of the sensational pictures of 'the Naked Protest' splashed on the Newspapers and on the Internet. I did not know how to react. At first I was under the impression that a group of PETA (People For Ethical Treatment of Animals) activists had descended on the state… and I think we all know about PETA and the thing they have for nudity. A Naked Protest in our own home state of Manipur by our own Women Folks doesn't seem like it does it? But on a closer look and scrutiny the picture was indeed of our brave and bare naked Manipuri Women. Still then, it was kind of surreal, and then it began to sink in.

That group of bare naked Woman who stood at the 'fiery gates' of the Assam Rifles Kangla Camp with a banner that screamed 'Indian Army Rape Us' were definitely making a statement a statement so loud that it echoed and reverberated across the nation and the world as a whole. Here were a group of women who were bold enough to stand exposed for what they believed in. This group of Brave Women had defined and has given a new perspective to what Manipuri womanhood is all about. The Manipuri Women I must say has come of age.

Let us hope the Government both at the Center and the State will lift the AFSPA as demanded by the aggrieved public over this sensitive issue. So that peace and normalcy in the Manipur standard, will be restored soon to our strife torn and trouble ridden state. But at the same time, I think we all know the reasons why AFPSA was imposed on the state.

The other naked truth is that in the furor and blatant display of public anger against the atrocities committed by the Assam Rifles personnel which ultimately resulted in the death of Manorama Devi, no one talks about the late Rev.Jamkholet Khongsai, who was also a victim of the Assam Rifles brutality. Yes! What about the late Rev.Jamkholet Khongsai and how comes we rarely hear his name?? Yes! What about him?? His body was dug out as we all know with boot-marks found on his chest. But his name is rarely heard or mentioned; the attention is fully focused and riveted on Manoram Devi. Does this mean that the life of the Rev. Jamkholet Khongsai is of a much lesser value than Manorama Devi? (With no disrespect mean to the latter) Why is the name of Manorama Devi highlighted only and not that of the Late Rev. Jamkholet Khongsai? A life after all is a life irrespective of whatever. The late Rev.Jamkholet Khongsai was also a victim of the Assam's Rilfe Brutality. The Assam Rifles ' The So called Friends of the Hills'!

I think this only goes to show the glaring fact - the reality that bites, the reality that the people of the Hills and the Valley Region in Manipur are so divided and far from being united. Maybe for the Valley people, a life of 'A Hau' (Rev. Jamkholet Khongsai) is not of much importance and value. 'Si hau ni' attitude will not integrate the people of Manipur emotionally nor geographically. We need to change our mind-set and redefine our relationship and re-affirm our faith in each other.

The Hill-Valley divide and the widening gulf between the people of the Hills and the Valley are apparent enough for all to see. If the integrity of the state of Manipur is to be preserved, then the people of Manipur both in the Hills and the Valley should be emotionally integrated in the spirit of oneness. Unless and until the people living in the Hills and the Valley are emotionally integrated, then Manipur is as good as divided. Emotional Integration is a must, a prerequisite for the territorial integrity of the State.

And the frequent attacks carried out on the CRPF camps located in residential areas of Lamka (Ccpur), and on the CRPF personnel in the heart of the commercial area of the town by the Valley Militants without the least concern for the safety and the welfare of the people of Lamka, will only make things worse and widen the existing gap between the people of the Hills and the Valley of Manipur.

Like mentioned earlier if the territorial integrity is to be preserved, then the people of the Churachanpur district and the Lamka town should be taken into consideration, and they should not be antagonized. And to call a spade a spade, the people of Lamka do not appreciate at all the 'Periodical Attacks' carried out on the CRPF by the Valley based Militants right from the beginning of this year. Some of these 'attacks' on the CRPF were launched on the CRPF camps located in the heart of a residential areas and in the commercial areas without the least concern and respect for the people of Lamka. Because when bullets are fired, and bombs exploded, Children are frightened, scared and panic-stricken, their tiny bodies shriveled up with fear and terror. And the little kids remain in a state of shock even long after the exchange of bullets is over. It may be apt to quote here the saying of the legendary Revolutionary 'the late Che Gueverra' "To the extent of sounding ridiculous, I must say that A true Revolutionary must be marked by compassion for the people"

And one must remember that even Guns, Bombs and Rocket Launchers cannot bend the will of the people. As mentioned earlier unless and until the people of the Hills and the Valley are emotionally integrated and united in a spirit of brotherhood and common humanity, in peaceful co-existence and mutual non-aggression, the territorial integrity of Manipur will remain under a constant threat, because no amount of force and intimidation can chained or bend the will of the people even if they are just a Minority, and there are no prison walls strong enough in this world that can imprison and hold back a soul that wants to be free….. and that is one 'Naked-Truth' in itself.