As hostilities return to Manipur, chorus in govt and security establishment: ‘Centre needs to push for dialogue’

A similar view was on Monday voiced by senior BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh, who is also the CM’s son-in-law. In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajkumar wrote, “Political dialogue and engagement between all stakeholders should be initiated at the earliest by the Central Government to bring a permanent and peaceful solution.” He wrote that 16 months after the conflict started, “one expected that the days of violence were left behind with more concentration on a political dialogue to bring a permanent and peaceful solution.”

Rajkumar had also urged Shah to remove central security forces, who he called “mute spectators” to the violence.

But top officials in the security establishment The Indian Express spoke to expressed helplessness in controlling the hostilities until both sides are made to sit across the table with each other. “The Army, police and CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) are securing limited periods of peace. Not just once but several times – there have been periods of two months of peace, four months of peace. But the actual solution lies in dialogue and that has not even started, actually. In its absence, there will be breaks because people get fed up with the lack of talks and do something to get attention,” said a senior official.

Another top security official also expressed concerns on the use of drones, which are now being used to drop crude bombs. “This is the first time during this conflict that drones are being used to drop bombs; earlier they were used for taking videos and for reconnaissance by both sides. Where the bombs and drones have been procured from is a matter of investigation, but it appears these are the kinds of drones that are used for deliveries, to which crude bombs have been attached,” said the official.

“Fringe areas” like Koutruk – located close to where the Meitei-majority valley meets Kuki-Zomi dominated hill districts – have been hotspots of firing and bombings through the course of the conflict, but have been relatively calm since April. The centre of tensions, displacement and intermittent violence had shifted to Jiribam in the Western-most part of the state, along its border with Assam. The state last experienced around two weeks of violent incidents in these “fringe areas” in April during the Lok Sabha elections, following another 40 day period of relative calm.

The latest escalation in violence started a day after a widespread protest rally organised by the Kuki-Zo communities in protest against the present Manipur government led by Biren Singh. On September 1, two people were killed and ten – including two police personnel – injured in firing and bombings in Imphal West’s Koutruk village. Afterwards, a police statement said that “numerous RPGs using high-tech drones” had been used to attack the village by “alleged Kuki militants”. Several of those hurt had received shrapnel wounds from bombs dropped by the drones. On September 2, police said that three more people were injured by bombs dropped by drones in Senjam Chirang, another village in Imphal West. On Tuesday, the CM called the dropping of bombs using drones on civilians and security forces “an act of terrorism”.

The Indian Express has learnt that the Manipur administration has requested the Centre to provide anti-drone systems. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, DGP Rajiv Singh described the drone attacks as a “new phenomenon” that requires urgent attention.