The SC was shocked at the crime committed on two innocent women on May 4 in Kangpokpi district. The state abdicated its responsibility and politics was subsumed by ethnic loyalties and vested interests. No collector and SP can be spared when mass rapes occur in their district, and they don’t react with alacrity. Worse, the police party from which the hapless group was snatched did not file an FIR the same day and no one pursued the matter. This was a grave charge in itself and created grounds for dismissal. But, when the FIR was lodged a few days later, the matter still remained frozen. This is bound to happen when policemen and politicians abjure their duty and profess ethnic loyalties to become community heroes. Another ghastly crime against two women working in Imphal car wash the next day, met with the same state response. Compounding the horror was the active participation of women in the attacking mob.
Around 4,500 arms, including sophisticated weapons from the state police armouries are still missing – an extremely dangerous situation calling for immediate takeover by the Centre. Such incidents are faithfully reported by the central and state intelligence agencies. The state government remains silent for its own reasons but then, the Governor reports to the Centre too. It is the Centre’s bounden duty to rescue a state from serious internal strife. A committed Home Secretary would have stood his ground on the issue of the imminent collapse of the state machinery and pursued the promulgation of President’s Rule. Instead, drop boxes appeared outside houses of politicians begging the snatchers to return looted arms with the DGP himself joining the charade, making an appeal to criminals to return arms.
It is time for the Centre to act. Manipur needs a desperate break from politics for at least two years to heal its wounds and limp back to normalcy under an unbiased, professional set-up catering to its needs. A road map for Manipur is imperative with the following action plan:
One, remove the Chief Minister who has lost his moral mandate among the people and failed to act as a head of state. There is a severe trust deficit among the hill tribes and even some Meiteis find him unable to provide resolute leadership. Also, few BJP leaders have expressed horror over the pathetic law and order situation in the state. By removing him, the PM would do credit not only to the state but also to himself as the leader of the nation.
Two, promulgate President’s Rule, choosing a new Governor from among the best-retired cadre officers of the state. You need a tough and balanced administrator. There are plenty who would respond to the call of the state at this hour.
Three, appoint three capable advisors from the IAS, IPS and the défence services to assist the Governor. Names of outstanding officers like G S Pandher, Harjit Sandhu, A N Jha, Nikhilesh Jha, John Shilsi, Jarnail Singh, B L Vohra, etc., are available to pick from. An economic advisor should also be selected to revive the industry, flow of investments and chart the future course of development.
Four, don’t bring in the army with AFSPA. This would be a retrograde move. A robust democracy with the fifth-largest economy cannot display to the world its inability to manage one of its states without its army. This will just open another front and expose old wounds.
Five, give a fresh start to ground policing. If necessary, DMs and SPs can be brought from outside on deputation. The current ones familiar with the terrain, after all, did nothing.
Six, direct SITs to begin arrests of arms snatchers. Manipur has become a militarised state with 4,500 weapons in the hands of lumpens, vigilante groups and militants. The police staff must be warned to give out the names of arms looters and assist in arrests. Those present at the time of loot should be prosecuted for chicanery or collusion. Effective police leaders need to be appointed to task the local police to aid in arrests, seizures, summoning witnesses and providing administrative backup.
Seven, take firm action against women’s groups creating unruly, embarrassing situations to disrupt lawful action by security forces against militants and vigilante groups. An adequate number of women officers and personnel must be deployed for such operations.
Eight, set up special courts and prosecution teams for proper, speedy trial and conviction of the guilty. This is necessary for the victims to have faith in the justice system.
Nine, clear the confusion regarding Suspension of Operations with 25 Kuki militant groups. The arms inside 14 camps of 2,200 cadres must be verified. While the CAPF should uproot the extortion nakas set up by the Kuki and Meitei militants, local police should rein in the opium mafia in which some politicians are also involved. A brave Additional S P Brenda, a crusader against drug mafia, had to resign in frustration for lack of state support. She must be brought back to smash the drug mafia.
Ten, direct collectors to start work on getting the refugees back to their homes from camps with state funds and confidence-building exercises.
Once the wheels of administration start running and are visible to all, the second phase of operations should begin:
Peace councils must be set up. Earlier, members resigned, some out of fear and some out of loyalty to their ethnic group. It is important to also get neutral academicians, journalists and civil society groups on board for their unbiased approach towards peace and problem-solving.
Set the political process in motion by nominating a tall leader accepted by all.
And, lastly, publicly honour brave men and women who showed incredible courage in saving the lives of other people from communities not their own in the darkest hour. Tales abound in the hills of Kukis saving Meiteis and some Meiteis doing the same in the plains.
The Prime Minister has promised, from the ramparts of Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day, that the Manipur crisis will be resolved. Finding long-term solutions where each community has legitimate grievances may not be easy. Political sagacity in negotiations comes into play making fair adjustments for all sides to agree. Meanwhile, an efficient administration under the President’s Rule will put the state back on the right track. All ethnic communities in Manipur are yearning for a fair and firm regime. Only then the armed militias would disarm, trenches and barbed wires disappear and the climate for talks usher in.
For years, Manipur has lived under the shadow of guns, drugs and extortion. It’s time to give it a fair trial. Start a political dialogue, give it an economic impetus and allow each community to live in peace and tranquillity. We owe it to the “jewelled land” surrounded by nine hills.
The writer is chairman of DeepStrat, a former Central Information Commissioner and a retired IPS officer who served as secretary, security, and special director, Intelligence Bureau
Protests have been raging across the country demanding a solution to the clashes in Manipur. (Photo: AP) 
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