Manipur On Boil, Civil Society Junks NDA Resolution, Sets 24-Hour Ultimatum

The Northeastern state has been on the edge since ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities erupted last year. The killing of six people, including women and children, in Jiribam earlier this month has started a new cycle of violence, forcing the Centre to rush more forces to keep the situation under control.

Assam has sealed its borders with Manipur, fearing that the violence in the neighbouring state may spill over. Assam Police have deployed commandos at the state border and said they have inputs about 'bad elements' trying to cross over.

At Manipur, the N Biren Singh-led BJP government finds itself in a tough spot amid the spiralling violence. Demands for the Chief Minister's resignation have grown loud.

NDA ally National People's Party has withdrawn support to the BJP government in Manipur, flagging its failure to restore normalcy. The Conrad Sangma-led has said it may rethink its position if there is a "leadership change" in the state.

The cornered Chief Minister called a meeting of NDA legislators at his residence yesterday to find a way out of the crisis. Interestingly, 11 out of 38 MLAs skipped the meeting without citing reasons for their absence, according to sources in the Chief Minister's Office.

Several resolutions were passed in the meeting. These include seeking a review by the Centre on the need to re-impose Armed Forces Special Power Act in Manipur and a mass operation against Kuki militants allegedly responsible for Jiribam killings within seven days. The legislators have also demanded that three key cases of killings be transferred to the National Investigation Agency. They have agreed that Kuki militants responsible for Jiribam killings should be declared members of an "unlawful organisation".

The civil society, however, is not satisfied. Khuraijam Athouba, spokesperson for Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, an umbrella body of Meitei outfits, said, "They have resolved to start mass operations against Kuki militants responsible for the killing of six innocent women and children in Jiribam. But we have been telling that the crime has happened not just in Jiribam but in several other places of Manipur since May 2023. People of Manipur have demanded the state government and the legislators to fix responsibility on all SoO groups and carry out operations against them," he said.

SoO groups refer to Kuki insurgent groups with which the Centre has a Suspension of Operation pact. Under SoO agreement, insurgents are to stay in designated camps and their weapons kept in locked storage to be jointly monitored by the forces and the Kuki militants. The SoO lapsed in February. The government hasn't announced whether it has been renewed. However, the encounter of the 10 suspected Kuki militants on November 11 indicates that the SoO agreement has not been renewed, sources said. The civil society body has demanded that all SoO groups be declared unlawful organisations and their agreement with the Centre be junked.

"The government or legislators need not consult with the people again. Our position is very clear. Within the next 24 hours, we want the government to review this resolution and come back with a better resolution. If they don't do that, we will intensify our agitation. Our first move will be shut down the state and central government offices," the COCOMI spokesperson said.

In the hill areas, dominated by the Kuki community, a coffin rally was taken out. Dummy coffins with photos of those killed in the violence were paraded. Recently, 10 suspected militants from the community were shot dead by security forces in Jiribam. The community says the dead were village volunteers, security forces have trashed this claim. Lynda Kim, spokesperson for Zomi Mothers Association, said, "We ask the central government to break its silence, cease being a passive observer and address this atrocity with the urgency demanded."