New Delhi, September 04, 2023 (PPI-OT): Although Modi regime is downplaying the aggravating situation in Manipur, yet the latest statement by Assam Rifles, which directly works under Indian army, underlines the seriousness of the ongoing volatile situation in the sensitive border state. The Director General of Assam Rifles, Lt General P.C. Nair, in a media interview said that the situation in Manipur was unprecedented.

“The situation that we are facing in Manipur is unprecedented. We have never faced anything of this kind in history. It is new to us, it is new to Manipur too. Something similar happened in the early 90s when the Nagas and Kukis fought and then within the Kuki groups also there was a fight in the late 90s,” Lt General Nair said. The statement is significant and alarming as it comes from the Assam Rifles.

The violence in Manipur has so far caused at least 160 deaths and there are reports of 2,000 villages being burnt and over 360 churches either being burnt or destroyed. Lt General Nair spoke of the multiple challenges that the armed forces were facing in the state that has been marred by very serious violence since May 3. Lt General Nair said the “large number of weapons” with civilians was a key concern.

“The society has become weaponised. Unless these weapons come back in whatever way they can, this challenge will be the biggest. Today, there’s so much against each other, it’s so corrupted. This needs to be stalled,” were his exact words. The reports put the number of weapons looted from police armouries at more than 3,000. On June 3, the Indian Express reported that as many as 4,000 weapons had been looted from the police and state armoury. It also said that till then only 650 weapons had been recovered. The kind of weapons including AK and INSAS rifles and bombs, among others looted is a grave concern.

Manipur is meant to enjoy an advantage as per the ruling BJP, of a “double-engine” government, with the same party in control in Imphal and in Delhi. But despite a long and unprecedented visit and stay by Indian home minister Amit Shah, the violence is not under control. The Indian Supreme Court last month, upon summoning the chief secretary of the state had remarked, that there was “no law and order left in Manipur”. Meanwhile, fresh violence has killed at least eight persons in the districts of Bishnupur and Churachandpur over the last three days with firing and violence continuing since August 29.

There is little coordination between central forces and those from the state. Assam Rifles has been locked in another unprecedented conflict with the state police. Manipur Police filed an FIR against Assam Rifles last month for “allowing Kuki Militants to flee”. A video of a heated exchange between Assam Rifles and Bishnupur police had earlier gone viral. Assam Rifles is administratively under the Union home ministry but operationally works under the army. It is commanded by army officers, who constitute around 80% of the officer cadre.

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