Sporadic violence imminent as distrust deepens
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 06, 2023 -

WHILE the death of a young man and injuries suffered by over 20 men and , women in the violence in Thoubal district on Tuesday underscore scepticism over commitment of security forces in safeguarding the civilian population and properties in the peripheral villages, the assertion by Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum that bunkers are essential to ensure protection of foothill Kuki villages corroborates the increasing trust deficit between the two warring communities and suspicion on commitment of the security forces.

Amid the appeal by chief minister N Biren to the people not to indulge in violence and extend cooperation to the government’s endeavour to stabilise the situation, hundreds of people from different locations in Thoubal district tried to storm the 3rd India Reserve Battalion (IRB) headquarters at Khangabok consequently forcing IRB and central force personnel stationed at the IRB campus and deployed in the area to launch crackdown.

While real intention of the mob varies with a section citing lack of trust in the security forces and another contending that they came to reclaim the firearms which were looted from police stations but subsequently recovered during the course of search operations, the violence itself signifies that the government authorities shall have to maximise the efforts to win over the people’s trust and confidence.

Even as the mob’s bid to seize weapons and ammunition did not fructify the agitated public singling out one of the IRB personnel and torching his house ring out the message that there has been growing anxiety and frustrations among the Meetei people as fringe villages continue to face armed attacks from suspected Kuki militants.

Interestingly, Kuki organisations continue to stick to the stand that Kuki villagers resort to firing to stave off attacks by Meetei miscreants on Kuki villages. In sharp contrast to such narratives, the fact remains that in almost all of the army clashes so far, the Meetei people generally retaliate only when they suffer casualties.

For instance, there had been numerous cases of long distance firing which the Meetei people tend to ignore.

Therefore, the contention by ITLF that bunkers are essential to protect Kuki-Zo tribal villages from raids is unlikely to impress many for the simple reason that majority of the bunkers were built after Meetei villagers were intimidated to flee.

As it is obvious that not resisting the decision of the Unified Security Command to destroy all unauthorised bunkers might invite wrath of the Kuki people in distress as had befallen on the KNO spokesperson whose house in a Churachandpur district village was torched on Monday night purportedly to protest lifting of the highway blockade, it is but natural for ITLF to strike a tough posture.

Regardless of the ITLF’s objection, the decision of the Unified Command’s meeting chaired by chief minister N Biren to remove all bunkers shall have to be executed at the ground level as the government cannot afford to allow aggravation of the situation.

As it is obvious that Kuki militants would continue to carry out attacks to instil fear among the Meetei settlers in the peripheral villages, it is advisable that the government expedite the process for creating buffer zone between the Meetei and Kuki villages to avert further complication of the situation.