Diligence of security forces must to resolve crisis
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 03, 2023 -

AS commented earlier in this column, rushing in more central forces into the state is unlikely to make much of a difference at the ground level other than in reducing the number of violent clashes, which is also what the masses want as there are ample evidences that the tension and turmoil will not cease anytime soon.

With gunfights occurring intermittently in the bordering villages, in-spite of deployment of nearly 40,000 additional central armed police forces for over 50 days since the violence broke out, it is only natural that number of casualties would continue to rise as sophisticated weapons are being used to settle the score between the two communities unlike in the initial stages of the conflict when the firearms were mainly licensed guns.

Thus, it would be the wish of all sane persons that rushing in of additional CAPF personnel to ensure ‘more feet on the ground’ would bring some respite from the violence.

Continuation of the violence amid assurances by both state and central authorities to contain the crisis at the soonest possible also seem to have made the latter realise that Manipur is staring at a protracted and fierce showdown between the two communities.

Amid the fear that the violence wouldn’t subside any soon, the central government is rushing in more CAPF personnel in what is another bid to ensure that the situation does not go out of control.

Nevertheless, in-spite the centre airlifting additional forces to restore peace and normalcy, it is the increasing trust deficit between the security forces and civilian population which is worrisome.

The aspersions cast on the central forces is primarily centred on the fact that attacks are carried out by suspected Kuki militants mainly during the midnight hours whereas the Meetei retaliate in broad daylight.

The central forces’ inability to curb movement of the Kuki perpetrators and central security officers speculating that Meetei womenfolk resort to blocking the roads due to instigation by non-state actors signify lack of cordiality between the central forces and the Meetei population.

Moreover, there is also deep suspicion over prompt presence of central forces whenever gunfights break out in the foothill villages whereas those attacking the peripheral villages have enough time to open fire, loot household properties and set the standing structures on fire without intervention by the security forces, as if they are tasked to act only after the perpetrators get out of sight.

With both sides alleging state and central forces of aiding the rival communities, it is but natural that deployment or presence of security forces in the sensitive areas would be viewed with deep suspicion by the local populace rather than believing that their lives and properties would be protected.

In view of deployment of additional forces unable to contain the cycle of violence, the security establishment is reportedly re-strategizing deployment of forces in the fringe areas of the Imphal valley, which underscores acceptance by the government authorities that the situation is far from being peaceful.

Regardless of top brass of the security citing lack of proper coordination among various forces and the vastness of the topography as the core problems, it is actually commitment and nonpartisan conduct of the security officers at the field level which will decide whether or not violence continues in Manipur.