The ongoing ethnic cleansing experiment in Manipur, state support to Arambai Tengol, a well armed radical Meitei militia, taking control of Imphal with security forces nowhere in sight, as also armed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) cadres - with whom the government said signed a peace deal and laid down their arms - has been reported earlier (https://www.southasiamonitor.org/spotlight/manipur-continues-smolder-even-after-year).

On April 27, 2024, two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and two injured in a bomb attack by suspected insurgents on April 27, 2024, at a camp of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Bishnupur district's Naranseina village, 45 km from Imphal.

It may be recalled that on June 24, 2023, the Army nabbed 12 armed terrorists of KYKL (Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup), including self-styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam, in Itham Village of Manipur but were forced to hand back terrorists by a mob of 1200-1500 led by Manipur MLA Thaounaojam Shyamkumar Singh. There was no further news about this politician-terrorist and the terrorists he forced the Army to release them.  

On April 30, 2024, an Indian Army column was stopped from taking away the arms and ammunition they seized from two SUVs in Manipur's Kumbi area of Bishnupur district by hundreds of women protestors of the 'Meira Paibis' (a civilian group of Meitei women). According to an official, “On seeing the Army personnel, the occupants of the two vehicles fled, leaving behind their arms." These were Meitei terrorists. The use of women to protect them has become the new normal in Manipur.

Internet shutdowns and violence

According to a report by Access Now, a global organization focused on digital civil rights, India leads in global internet shutdown for the sixth year in a row. India logged 116 instances (including 64 in Manipur) of internet shutdowns in 2023 (41 percent of the 283 globally). Internet shutdowns cost India $1.9 billion and a loss of $118 million in foreign investment in the first half of 2023.  The severe impact of shutdowns is more on women for documenting rampant atrocities, including murder, rape, arson, other gender-based violence, to nail perpetrators (https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-leads-in-global-internet-shutdowns-for-6th-year-in-a-row-report-101715771306186.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-intl). 

Four Manipur police personnel, a CRPF cadre, a suspected drug dealer and five residents who refused to pay protection money to terrorists were among at least 13 people abducted from different parts of Manipur between May 8 and 13. Imphal markets were shut down on May 20 due to rampant extortion cases. It is not difficult to visualize that the Arambai Tengol and UNLF cadres are part of such activities,

On May 14, 2024, two Muslim youths were abducted at gunpoint from the Lilong Awang Leikai area of Thoubal district of Manipur. According to reports, the bodies of the youths, when found later, bore signs of brutal assault. One was found dead while the other remains under treatment for severe injuries. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in response to the murder issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to apprehend the perpetrators. On May 18, Kumarjit Laishram, a fashion designer in Imphal, was abducted and shot in the leg for his involvement in supplying women to high-profile individuals in Manipur. The UNLF claimed responsibility for the act.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) says the China-Myanmar module of National Socialist Council of Nagaland–Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) supported KYKL and the People’s Liberation Army of Manipur (PLAM) to infiltrate into India for carrying out terrorist attacks and destabilize Manipur (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/manipur-violence-china-myanmar-module-of-nscn-im-helped-banned-outfits-says-nia/articleshow/110165805.cms?from=mdr).

The NIA charge sheet filed on March 7, 2024, against five accused (arrested in July 2023 in Manipur) says they criminally conspired with intent to carry out violent terror attacks targeting the rival Kuki-Zo community with arms and ammunition looted from police armories, while PLAM provided arms training to 80-90 youth at the Selloi Langamai Ecological Park in Imphal East, Manipur. 

Being a Meitei terrorist organization, the PLAM naturally would want to target the Kuki-Zo. But the NIA report covers up the free hand given for ethnic cleansing to Arambai Tengol, UNLF, and  Manipur police commandos operating directly under the Chief Minister.  Also, the 4,500 arms and 50,000 rounds of ammunition looted from police/IRB armories in May 2023 were “distributed” to the Meitei with the connivance of the state administration according to sources on the ground.

Naga fears

On May 15, 2024, the NSCN-IM angrily dismissed the NIA allegations. These accusations may have aimed to revive the rift between Naga and Kuki-Zo of yore in Manipur to be exploited by the Meitei. But this is more likely to create friction between the government and Nagas in chalking out a comprehensive peace deal with all Naga factions. 

Nagas in Manipur have been openly saying they will be targeted after the Kuki-Zo as part of the continuing ethnic cleansing.  Sporadic attacks against Nagas have already happened. China would naturally like to arm every terrorist organization in India. But Nagas and Kuki-Zo being Christians, why would the NSCN (IM) help infiltrate Meitei terrorists to attack the Kuki-Zo and Nagas in Manipur? Why is Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh silent about Manipur MLA Thaounaojam Shyamkumar Singh heading a 1200-1500 strong women mob, forcing an Army column to release 12 KYKL armed terrorists in June 2023?

Anti-Army/Assam Rifles (AR) campaign reached a crescendo last year, with calls to oust them from Manipur and alleging they were helping the Kuki-Zo. This was despite the Army being completely impartial in its functioning in strife-torn Manipur. Now the propaganda has changed tune alleging “security forces” are assisting the Kuki-Zo.

Government figures as of May 3, 2023 state 221 were killed in Manipur violence and 60,000 displaced. Earlier figures also mentioned over 1,000 injured, 32 missing, 3,786 houses burnt and 386 religious structures vandalized. However, according to a new report by the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), conflict and violence triggered 69,000 displacements in South Asia during 2023, with Manipur alone accounting for 67,000.

Ironically, political skullduggery is likely to continue in Manipur, as would the violence with little effort to resolve the crisis with the state government pretending nothing has happened, amid tweets on X saying “sab kuch shanti purvak tarike se chal raha hai”  (everything is going on peacefully).   

(The author is an Indian Army veteran. Views are personal)