Central Forces Facing a Tough Challenge in Manipur

 The Government of India (GOI) is grappling with a renewed surge of violence in Manipur, prompting the deployment of an additional 2,500 central paramilitary personnel to the state. In a parallel move, the government has reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in six police station areas within Manipur. The latest unrest is primarily focused on the Jiribam district. However, the deep-rooted ethnic divide between the Imphal Valley and Manipur Hills places central forces in an almost untenable position.

Escalating Ethnic Tensions: A State Divided

The ongoing conflict, which has persisted for 19 months, has effectively split Manipur along ethnic lines, resulting in massive displacement among both communities. Central forces are tasked with acting as a buffer and controlling the activities of miscreants. However, their mission is significantly hampered by two key challenges:

1. Lack of Unified Support from Manipur Police: Ideally, Manipur Police should operate under a unified command structure to support the central forces. Unfortunately, one faction views the police as biased, which complicates the central forces' operations in the state.

2. Fragile Peace with Militant Groups: In 2008, the GOI signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement with 25 militant groups, primarily from the Hill regions. Maintaining the integrity of this agreement is crucial to sustaining the progress made against insurgency in the Northeast. As a result, central forces must tread carefully to avoid any actions that could jeopardize the SoO and further deteriorate the situation.

Complications from Village Defence Volunteers

Adding to the complexity is the emergence of village defence volunteers on both sides of the conflict. These groups are self-organized and have taken up arms, complicating the security landscape.

• The Manipur Police often labels these volunteers from the Hills as 'militants,' while Hill groups consider the Valley volunteers — including the armed Arambai Tenggol — as militias.
• For instance, during the recent violence in Jiribam, Manipur Police reported that 10 'militants' were killed. In contrast, Hill groups claimed that these individuals were volunteers who were responding to reports that Arambai Tenggol members had taken refuge in a local police station.

The Need for Decisive Action: GOI’s Role in Restoring Order

Given the current scenario, central forces are unable to effectively restore law and order as long as the Manipur Police continues its current approach. The Indian Army has also dismissed several allegations from Manipur Police, including accusations of drone usage by Hill groups. Simply handing over the unified command to the Manipur Chief Minister is not a viable solution.

The Government of India needs to take decisive measures to address this situation. Just as Parliament was able to amend the operational framework of the Delhi government, similar legislative actions can be considered to restore stability in Manipur. It is within the GOI’s power to restructure Manipur’s security apparatus to achieve lasting peace and order in the state.