Violence unlikely to cease at-least till probe is over
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 06, 2023 -

WITH formal constitution of the three-member Commission of In-quiry headed by former chief justice of the Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba, there is hope that the root cause of the series of violence in the state, that has so far claimed nearly ioo lives, would be unearthed but it is unlikely that neither the probe process nor the fervent appeal made by Union home Amit Shah to cease hostilities between the warring communities would evoke positive response from either side anytime soon as the conflict has strained the relationship irreparably.

Since outbreak of the communal riot on May 3 after-noon after the Tribal Solidarity March called by the All Tribal Students' Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meetei community in the ST category there has been unprecedented violent clashes, attacks, counter-attacks and arson of houses and vehicles thereby souring the relationship between the two with both the sides looking for the opportune moment to settle the score.

With the clashes getting bloodier due to use of firearms by and on both sides, it would be wishful thinking that there would be let-up in the violence in the coming days as it evident from the riot-affected civilian population seeking firearms more than anything else to defend themselves.

The snatching of service weapons from security forces during the course of the violence both in Kuki-dominated hill areas and valley also indicates that the voice of sanity from various prominent individuals and concerned civil societies has fallen on deaf ears and the people are determined to inflict as many casualties as possible.

Thus, it imperative that apart from activation of the probe process the Union government shall have to accord importance to the confi-dence building measures, including effective steps to rein in the Kuki militants whose acts of violence had been provoking the Meetei community to resort to retaliatory action.

As per the notification issued by the Union Home Ministry, the commission will inquire into the causes and spread of the violence and riots targeting members of different communities; sequence of events leading to, and all the facts relating to such violence; whether there were any lapses or dereliction of duty on the part of any of the responsible authorities/individ-uals; and inadequacy of the administrative measures taken to prevent, and to deal with the violence and riots.

As the commission will also be entertaining complaints or allegations made by any individual or association, it is could be safely predicted that the probe panel would be receiving tonnes of complaint notes and possibly photo evidences to showcase which party ignited the violence, elements that orchestrated the pogrom and reason for involvement of heavily armed militants.

It is also possible that some of the complainants might link public figures with the drug cartel and question the failure of central para-military forces to stop use of firearms in what started as a communal clash.

As the commission has been entrusted to submit its report to the central government as soon as possible but not later than six months from the date of its first sitting, one can't help but suspect that the showdown will continue at-least till the guilty ones have been exposed and appropriate action taken.