Manipur Police to undertake combing ops in Imphal West MLA Demands Central Forces’ withdrawal after militant attack
Police in Manipur are all gearing up to undertake combing operations in the areas bordering Imphal West to restore order after a recent militant attack. Manipur BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to withdraw the central forces to pave the way for state security personnel to assume duties. Singh opines that state forces are more capable to meet the challenge posed by restoring peace in strife-hit Manipur.
Withdrawal of Central Forces Demanded
In his letter to Amit Shah, Rajkumar Imo Singh-son-in-law of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh-called for the effectiveness of about 60,000 central forces deployed in Manipur. The central forces with such number cannot bring about peace and stability, Singh argued. Singh, on his part, said that the central forces have been “mute spectators” without attempting to contain violence in the state.
Singh’s criticism comes amidst the growing frustration among the local leaders and residents over the perceived inertia and ineffective measures taken by the central forces to contain the violence. He pointed out that despite the heavy deployment, the situation in Manipur remains volatile with recurring incidents of ethnic clashes and militant attacks.
Assam Rifles and Central Forces: Issues
Singh termed the recent decision to withdraw some units of the Assam Rifles for their reported lack of cooperation with the state government and locals as a step in the right direction. He praised this action to pull out some units of Assam Rifles who were not cooperating with the state government and the public, and termed it a step in the right direction. He had come to underline, however, that this was not going to be adequate by the mere reshuffling or removal of some units: if peace was to be lasting, the whole presence of central forces needed to be reconsidered.
The withdrawal of Assam Rifles units is indicative of larger issues of coordination and confidence between the central forces and the state government. There have been sustained allegations from various quarters that some central forces, including Assam Rifles, have not acted in perfect sync with the state’s strategy to handle the conflict, thereby making the peace efforts more complex.
Unified Command Authority Should Be Transferred
One of the major recommendations by Singh is the transfer of authority of the Unified Command from the central government to the state government led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh. He pointed out that the present command structure, which is heavily dominated by the central authorities, has already failed in controlling the aforementioned violence. He believes that empowering the state government with full command authority is crucial for implementing measures tailored to the local context and effectively addressing the underlying issues.
“The central government has to hand over the Unified Command to the state government headed by the Chief Minister and allow it to act as per the procedures prescribed by law to bring peace and normalcy in the state,” Singh said. He said the elected state government is better-placed to know how complex local problems are and find ways for restoring peace.
This demand for transferring the Unified Command authority is part of a more general demand for greater autonomy to be given to the state government in order to handle the internal security situation. It also brings into sharp focus questions relating to the balance of the equations of power between state and central authorities in conflict management, especially in states with distinctive socio-political environments like Manipur.
Background of Ethnic Strife in Manipur
The strife between the ethnic groups and insurgency have plagued Manipur for decades with the reports of various militant outfits operating in the region. There are frequent clashes among the various ethnic communities in the state, leading to quite a number of deaths, dislocation of people, and general lack of security in the entire state. The central government has deployed large contingents of forces including the Assam Rifles and other paramilitary units according to the situation arising out of it.
Yet, continued incidents of violence would seem to suggest that the heavy-handed military approach cannot solve the root causes of the conflict. The problems involve ethnic tensions, land disputes, and political grievances that require grayer and more inclusive solutions impinging on all the citizens’ participation. This, according to some, can only be competently executed by local leaders who understand the finer details of the region.
Role of Security Advisors and Future Directions
The Ministry of Home Affairs subsequently appointed former CRPF Director General Kuldiep Singh as a security advisor to the Manipur government in the aftermath of growing violence. His mandate is to give strategic guidance and support to the state government in dealing with the security challenge. But the latest calls for pulling out central forces and transferring command authority underlines the fact that more comprehensive, locally driven strategies may be required.
The situation in Manipur continues to be fragile in the future also, with security and stability demands still a cause for concern. Demands for withdrawal of central forces and autonomy for the state government are parts of a larger demand for devolution of greater security and governance powers to the locale. How the central government responds to this demand determines the future course for peace and stability in Manipur.
Conclusion
A recent call by Rajkumar Imo Singh for the withdrawal of central forces and simultaneous strengthening of state security forces has brought into sharp focus the multi-dimensional exercise of ethnic strife management in Manipur. If the presence of central forces in Manipur was supposed to stabilize the situation, the incidents of violence continuing unabated, coupled with calls to take them away, hint at a locally driven approach to the problem. Thus, the much-required Unified Command authority, in being left in the hands of state government, could bring hope that tailored strategies down to the local knowledge may lead towards lasting peace in Manipur. The recent militant attack, which has rattled the state once again, has started the preparatory exercise for combing operations, keeping a strong emphasis on finding sustainable solutions towards restoring harmony in the region.
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