CM Biren Singh Meets Governor Amid Law and Order Crisis in Manipur
In a spiraling law and order crisis, the Chief Minister, Biren Singh, on Saturday held an emergency meeting with the legislators of the ruling coalition. The protests by the BJP-led coalition, along with Naga People’s Front and National People’s Party, against the growing violence in the state have intensified.
Manipur Ongoing Crisis: A Call for Emergency Action
A meeting was held at the bungalow of the chief minister to discuss recent incidents of attacks on civilians carried out by armed groups operating from elevated hill areas. The urgency of the meeting is a pointer to the gravity of the situation.
Security and political stability in Manipur have been compromised due to unabated ethnic violence. Sources said the legislators and CM Singh were on Friday also likely to meet Governor Anusuiya Uikey for further guidance on handling the crisis. The governor had kept a close watch on developments in Manipur as the state continued to remain in turmoil.
Prohibitory Orders Enforced After Violence in Jiribam
Fresh violence started in the Jiribam district of Manipur, killing five civilians. Hence, District Magistrate Krishna Kumar issued prohibitory orders to restrain the situation from getting further out of hand. According to News 18, The orders have barred congregation of more than five people and carriage of arms and ammunitions within the area of affecting.
In the order, DM Krishna Kumar apprehended widespread disturbances to public peace and tranquility. He then appealed for cooperation from the public in maintaining the rule of law and not messing with the situation during these troublesome times. Violence in Jiribam is but the latest in a string of incidents that have convulsed Manipur over the last fortnight.
The killing of five people in Jiribam has escalated the tense situation in Manipur. This attack came after militants targeted the most insecure amongst civilians in far-flung hill areas.
Encounters and Bunkers Demolished in Churachandpur
In a related development, security forces launched operations against insurgent groups in Churachandpur district on Friday. Forces destroyed three militants’ bunkers after they took control of those when the insurgents conducted rocket attacks in the Bishnupur district. One person was killed and six others got injured from the attack, thus escalating the tension in the area more.
Official sources said that militants entered the house of a solitary resident in Orchid Colony, about 5 km away from the district administration headquarters. The victim, they said, was shot dead when he was sleeping, showing the brutal aspect of the continuing violence. The spurt in militant activities has resulted in a strong response from security forces, but the situation still remains precarious as insurgents have been targeting both civilians as well as security personnel.
Aerial Surveillance and Anti-Drone Measures
With unabated violence, the Manipur administration has deployed military helicopters to undertake aerial surveillance in the affected districts. Anti-drone systems have been activated against rogue drones deployed by the militants to bring a new dimension to the conflict. Such systems are designed for the detection and neutralization of potential threats from the air, as reportedly, militants use drones to coordinate attacks and monitor the movement of security forces.
A police senior officer, quoting IANS, said suspected Kuki militants in a coordinated attack targeted Nungchappi village in the Jiribam district and killed an old man identified as Yurembam Kulendra Singha, aged 63 years. In the other incident, militants resorted to firing shots in Rasidpur village. In retaliatory action, another civilian Baspatimayum Lakhi Kumar Sharma, 41 years, was killed. Both the victims belonged to the Meitei community-one of the main ethnic groups in Manipur.
The attacks were responded to in adequate time by the security forces, which, headed by senior police officials, reached the site immediately. However, they faced intense firing from the insurgents. Security personnel then started firing back in return, which escalated the situation. Though the police tried their best to end the violence, the unabated violence has sent jitters among the police and local residents as well.
Political Efforts to Restore Peace
The fact that Chief Minister Biren Singh is meeting the governor underlines the recognition of the government regarding the urgency in addressing the law and order situation. Spiraling violence, ethnic tension, and frequent attacks on civilians have mounted tremendous pressure on the administration for restoring peace and stability in the state.
It is this participation of coalition partners that indicates the political unity needed for the crisis. The meeting debated leaders from the BJP, Naga People’s Front, and National People’s Party on ramping up security intelligence operations followed by dialogue with the residents.
The Root Cause: Ethnic and Militant Tensions
This violence in Manipur also epitomizes a structurally intricate ethnic friction between the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities. Concomitant events with the activities of various militant groups operating across the hilly regions of this state also aggravated them. Incidences of frequent conflicts between different ethnic groups and the presence of insurgents have created a “cycle of violence” that is hard to break.
Jiribam and Churachandpur are the latest in a spate of such violent attacks that have struck Manipur these past months. While the militants continue to exploit ethnic divisions, the uphill task of restoring order rests with the government.
Conclusion: Way Ahead for Manipur
This meeting between CM Biren Singh and the ruling coalition partners over the deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur marks a key milestone toward peacemaking. But peacemaking will take some time and be arduous. At present, violence in Jiribam and Churachandpur makes it clear that such a solution needs to be all-inclusive, with better security and more dialogue across ethnic groups, and there needs to be sustained political will to resolve the underlying tensions.
While military helicopters and anti-drones may bring temporary relief, long-term solutions would have to be worked out among the government, security forces, and local communities. The state leadership has to take a firm decision as violence strikes Manipur repeatedly.
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