The Kuki protestor, who was killed in clashes with the Central security forces in Kangpokpi district – one of the epicentres of violence – on that fateful day could be buried by his community people only on March 13, that is, on the fifth day after he had succumbed and after 28 days since the Manipur was brought under President’s rule on February 13. The delay of almost five days in conducting the burial was because of strong opposition of Kuki-Zos to the enforcement of free movement plan “as it undermines and dilutes the justice process”, the Kuki-Zo Council had argued.

In the immediate context, the positive development that deserves mention is that ultimately the Manipur administration and the Union home ministry’s North-East unit succeeded in persuading KZC and other Kuki-Zo outfits to lift the shutdown of National Highways to facilitate unrestricted movement of people and essential commodities. For Manipur NH 2 and NH 37 are critical for supply of essentials to the Imphal Valley, where a vast majority of the Meiteis live. NH 2 connects Dimapur in Nagaland and Imphal, passing through Kangpokpi. NH 37 connects Silchar in Assam with Imphal. Kuki-Zos, however, have reiterated that they remain firm on their demand for a separate administrative arrangement for the state’s hill areas.

The Central team that met representatives of Kuki-Zo outfits in Churachandpur on March 11 to convince them of the urgency of their lifting the blockade, too utilised the occasion to convey that a separate administrative arrangement in whatever format was not part of New Delhi’s peace restoration action plan. A sort of bonus for the state government and the Centre is the pledge of six Naga MLAs to support all efforts to re-establish normalcy and peace in the state. This they conveyed to Governor Ajay Bhalla when they met him on March 13. Manipur watchers are of the opinion that posturing and raising of demand by the two sides to the ethnic conflict would mark the coming days and much would depend on how Governor Bhalla handles the sensitive situation.

Significantly, they add that “the credibility of the Union home ministry’s political master is low and in the fitness of things the political master should allow Bhalla and chief secretary Prashant Singh, both of whom have extensive functional knowledge about North-East, a free hand. The March 8 directive on free movement should have been issued after wider consultations with all stakeholders”, they emphasised.

Among the Meiteis’ demands, as articulated by Arambai Tenggol which calls itself “a socio-cultural” organisation committed to preserving the rich heritage and territorial integrity of Manipur, the most important one is about implementation of the National Register of Citizens to ‘protect the rights and identities’ of the indigenous population. “Arambai Tenggol respects all communities which have co-existed for many years. Our mission is to defend the state from any forces that attempt to disrupt our unity and threaten our identity.

The influx of illegal influx of immigrants from neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh poses significant challenges including social tension and competition for jobs and land. This complex situation has implications for our electoral processes and overall national security. An NRC exercise is critical for Manipur; identification and deportation of illegal immigrants who have resorted to extensive poppy seed farming and, as an extension, have indulged in narco-terrorism, brook no delay, Arambai Tenggol’s Commissioner at GHQs Munindro Mangang recently told IPA.

The organisation has stressed that it is the responsibility of every Indian citizen to respect and uphold the Indian Constitution. It has urged the state administration to accord priority to the reconstruction of damaged, vandalised Hindu temples and Meitei religious places. Reconstruction and restoration would mean a healing touch and help foster peace, it has been pointed out. In the media, Arambai Tenggol is usually referred to as a radical Meitei organisation.

Reconstruction of damaged churches and their properties has also urged repeatedly by Kuki-Zo outfits in their written representations to the Manipur government. Damaged churches outnumber other religious places including those of the Hindus, informed quarters told IPA. But, the progress has been tardy and this has remained a sore point with the followers of different faiths. It merits mention that a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court had in mid-December 2023 had asked the Manipur government to inform the expert committee formed by apex court on the steps, inter alia, for securing vandalised places of worship. The expert committee, formed in August 2023, was headed by Justice Gita Mittal.

The Kuki-Zos’ grievances centre on the domination by the Meiteis in all administrative spheres and government-funded or aided institutions. Opportunities for them have been shrinking over the years, particularly during the regime of N Biren Singh, chief minister, who was forced to step down on February 9. As is known, the Assembly remains in state of suspended animation.

Meanwhile, politicians unhesitatingly vent their grievance against the Union home minister saying that he does not keep his words. Shah visited the state for the first time on May 29, 2023 – 26 days after ethnic violence broke out on on May 3, 2023. He then had said he would come back in 10-15 days, but he did not. He, of course, did visit the state a second time on April 16, 2024 but that was for campaigning BJP candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. During his first visit that was for three days to morning of June 2, 2023 he had assured immediate ceasefire and starting of helicopter services to three destinations – Aizawl, Dimapur, Guwahati and Shillong – from Churachandpur. But priority on implementation was missing. (IPA Service)