Drug lords funding illegal weapons: Ex-DGP
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 22 2024:
Former DGP of Manipur, BL Vohra, expressed deep concern over the spiralling violence in Manipur, which he attributes to a series of missteps, cross-border issues including illegal immigration, and the influx of high-end illegal weaponry funded by drug lords.
He warned that the situation festering since May last year is far more complex and dangerous than it appears, with ethnic tensions, external influences, and drug cartels driving the conflict.
In an interview with News9 Live, the former DGP explained that the roots of the ongoing violence can be traced to the entry of Myanmarese nationals - specifically the Chin people, who share ethnic ties with the Kuki community in Manipur-into Indian territory.
These individuals, fleeing pressure from the military regime in Myanmar, began engaging in large-scale poppy cultivation in Manipur, further exacerbating existing social and ethnic tensions in the state.
According to Vohra, this activity placed Manipur at the "tip of the Golden Triangle," a region notorious for drug trafficking, which stretches across Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.
As the state government started cracking down on this illegal poppy cultivation, it ignited unrest among these newly settled groups, he said and opined that tension was simmering just beneath the surface and only needed a spark to ignite.
That spark, he claimed, came in the form of a "misrepresented" High Court order regarding the potential granting of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meetei community, creating a flashpoint for the conflict.
Vohra criticised the Central and state governments for not acting swiftly enough to address the unrest, which he believes could have been "nipped in the bud" .
He warned that "people in India are now using drones and rockets," drawing parallels to the ongoing violence in Gaza, stressing that such a situation is unprecedented within India's borders.
A particularly concerning revelation from Vohra was the involvement of international drug cartels in financing the procurement of sophisticated weapons for the insurgents.
He mentioned that more than 4,000 weapons had been looted, many of which, he believes, were handed over by local officers loyal to their respective ethnic communities.
"Kuki officers have been supporting the Kukis, and Meetei officers have been supporting the Meeteis," Vohra said.
He expressed concern over the kind of weaponry now in the hands of these groups.
They are coming in with drones and rockets, he said.
"Somebody is financing it, and let me tell you who - it's the drug lords," Vohra said, underscoring the nexus between drug cartels and the ethnic militias in the state.
Vohra did not mince words when it came to criticising the government for its handling of the situation.
"The Government of India is sleeping," he said bluntly, adding that the political leadership has allowed the situation to spiral out of control.
He called for urgent, drastic measures to be taken to restore law and order in Manipur, including the imposition of President's Rule in the state and the deployment of central forces.
He stressed that the Army, Air Force, and other national security assets should be deployed along the border to prevent further infiltration from Myanmar, but cautioned against using them to act against Indian citizens.
"These forces are not meant for our own people, but for those who are planning to come in," he sard, referring to the Myanmarese insurgents who have crossed the border.
He also suggested that senior union ministers should be stationed in Manipur to oversee the situation directly.
Another critical point raised by BL Vohra was the need for a complete overhaul of the local administrative machinery.
He recommended bringing in officers from outside the state to ensure impartiality in handling the crisis.
"Most of the local officers have their own local loyalties," he said.
Officers of "proven capability" who have served in Manipur in the past should be consulted and brought in to manage the situation, he advised.
He also criticised the security advisor for making public the intelligence input of 900 Kuki militants infiltrating into Manipur saying that it could create widespread panic among the people.
Vohra warned that the time for half-measures is over and that the "entire might of India" must now be deployed to bring peace to the region.
Without immediate and decisive action, he fears that the situation could escalate further, threatening not only Manipur but the stability of the entire region.
Comment
