Non-stop assault on Sugnu : The pattern behind it all
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: February 20, 2024 -

Even as Chief Minister N Biren talked tough, even going to the extent of proclaiming that process is underway to lodge a First Information Report against a sitting MLA for uploading a provocative post on X, formerly Twitter, came the news of Kuki militants bombarding Sugnu for the 4th consecutive day.

This was on February 17, and fast forward to February 19 and the place continues to be bombarded by Kuki militants with non-chalance so much so that the militants have been able to convey the message that the writ of the Government no longer runs in places where the militants have a presence.

So for the 6th consecutive day Sugnu continues to be pummelled and to think that this is the place where peace held out till May 27, 2023, that is after violence erupted in all its ugliness on May 3, 2023.

It was on May 28 last year that Sugnu came under heavy attack from Kuki militants and how the attack was repulsed, with human casualties on either side, are stories that have been captured and told to the readers by the different Imphal based newspapers and local television channels.

Now come to the second month of the year 2024 and Sugnu occupies prime space in all the major newspapers of Imphal, following the uninterrupted onslaughts from Kuki militants.

In the course of the uninterrupted onslaughts, one Head Constable of the BSF and a number of village defenders have been injured and reports coming in more than say that the attacks are launched from Lailoiphai and Dongyang Kuki villages of Churachandpur.

The places from where the series of attacks have been launched are confirmed and this is where questions may well be raised on the steps taken up by the Government to neutralise the militants who have launched the attacks from the said two places.

What is stopping the Government and the Central security forces from sending their troops to the said two places and take out the militants active there ?

This question is raised in the backdrop of the fact that Sugnu has been bombarded by the said militants for the sixth consecutive day.

The pattern is unmistakable.

If it is Sugnu today, there was Moreh some time back and earlier Khamenlok, Koutruk, Senjam Chirang, Kadangband, Ningthou-khong Kha Khunou, Khoijumantabi, Napat etc and it should be clear to Imphal and New Delhi that these places are within shooting distance from places where the Kuki-Zos are predominant.

Take two and two together and it should not be too difficult to conclude that there are elements out there who are hell bent on continuing what was done at Torbung and Churachandpur on May 3, 2023.

The lies and the deceit should be called out for it has dragged on for far too long.

As repeatedly pointed out here in this column, the May 3, 2023 Tribal Solidarity Rally was staged on the false premise of the directive to the State Government from the High Court of Manipur to send the socio-economic reports of the Meiteis to the Centre to study the demand that the Meiteis be included in the ST list of the Constitution of India.

The Sangai Express has called out this lie on more than one occasion, reminding all that the ST for Meiteis demand dates back more than 10 years and in the more than one decade of the demand being raised, never once has it taken the form of targeting anyone or any community.

Even today, the demand is before the Government and is not directed against any community and it is for this reason why The Sangai Express has given the platform to everyone to discuss and debate over the demand that the Meiteis be granted the ST tag.

It is along this line that the recent representation to the Governor not to entertain the ST for Meiteis demand by the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) is seen and understood.

Let there be debates and discussions on this, but why was a rally supposed to be held against this demand get reduced to an exercise of targeting the Meiteis and their houses at Torbung and Churachandpur on May 3, 2023 ?

This is a question which the fantastically christened Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum and ATSUM have failed to answer to this day.

And it is on this false premise that places like Sugnu continue to be bombarded by Kuki militants and this is where one is left wondering what is stopping New Delhi and Imphal from sending their troops to the two villages from where the attacks are being launched and neutralise the Kuki militants.