In rare admission, MHA links spike in Northeast insurgency to Manipur’s ethnic strife

“The State accounted for about 77% of the total violent incidents in NER (North-East Region) in 2023 (Manipur: 187, entire NE: 243)… counter-insurgency operations resulted in killing of 33 insurgents and arrest of 184 insurgents with recovery of 49 weapons… 80 cadres of insurgent outfits surrendered with 31 arms,” the report stated.

“Large-scale ethnic violence erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur on May 3, 2023. The violence resulted in numerous casualties, injuries and incidents of arson. Though the issue of violence primarily relates to maintenance of public order, which is a subject in the state list of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, the Centre has been consistently extending its support, as required by the State government,” it stated.

The Centre, the report stated, has extended special assistance to Manipur and Rs 247.26 crore was released up to March 31 this year.

According to the data, 209 insurgency-related incidents of violence were reported in 2021, 23 civilians, eight security personnel and 40 extremists were killed. “686 extremists were arrested, 1,473 extremists have surrendered, 368 arms were recovered, 471 arms were surrendered, and 94 persons were kidnapped,” it stated.

“In 2023, a total of 243 insurgency-related incidents were registered in the NE region in which 38 civilians and eight Security Force (SF) personnel lost their lives. 99 persons were kidnapped and counter-insurgency operations led to neutralisation of 40 insurgents, arrest of 407 insurgents and recovery of 147 arms in the region. A total of 1,595 cadres of various insurgent outfits of NE states have surrendered with 459 arms and joined the mainstream of society,” the report stated.

Until March 31 this year, 77 insurgency-related incidents had been reported in which nine civilians and four extremists were killed, 53 people kidnapped, 125 extremists arrested and 25 surrendered, 51 weapons recovered and 7 weapons were turned in, according to the report.

The security situation in the NE states, the report stated, had improved substantially since 2014. Compared to 2014, there was 71% reduction in insurgency incidents, 60% in security forces casualties and 82% in civilian deaths in 2023.

“…data shows that 201 incidents were reported in 2022, seven civilians were killed, two security personnel were killed, and six extremists were killed. 563 extremists were arrested, 2023 extremists have surrendered, 394 arms were surrendered, 279 arms were recovered, and 103 persons were kidnapped,” the report stated.

To provide connectivity to remote areas of the region, a helicopter subsidy scheme is being administered by the MHA in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur.

“…In view of the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur, one additional helicopter with an annual ceiling of 430 hours, has been sanctioned for the state in February this year,” the report stated.