Has militancy reached the pinnacle in Manipur ?
- A reality check -

Robert Lanky *

In the past few months, a string of encounters in Manipur - the State bordering Myanmar, have netted a number of militants and huge cache of arms and ammunition. Recently, the Army have claimed to have busted militants' hideouts in the famous Keibul Lamjao Wild Life Sanctuary in Logtak Lake-the home of the almost extinct 'Brow Antlered Deer' locally known as 'Sangai'.

Taking advantage of the typical marshy terrain of Logtak Lake characterised by presence of floating biomass known as 'Phumdis' (in local parlance), interspersed with marshes and almost non navigable water channels, various proscribed underground outfits have established a network of administrative and operational camps and hideouts on many such 'Phumdis'. The 'Phumdis' being almost inaccessibile except by local canoe and well concealed from ground view due to tall grasses and undergrowth, were considered as 'safe haven'.

The myth was broken when the Army along with civil administration and police conducted a well conceived concerted operation code name 'Summer Storm' during the third week of April. The Army sources claimed to have killed 12 militants of the proscribed Peoples' Revolutionary party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) - a dreaded outfit, with huge cache of arms and ammunition.

It may be recalled that this outfit has been responsible for a number of grenade attacks and bomb blasts in Imphal and surrounding areas.

To halt the Army onslaught, the UG groups was forced to resort to false propaganda by mobilising public support to halt the operations on the grounds of endangering the 'Sangai' deer and the local population are being deprived of daily livelihood by the Army due to displacement.

According to a data from South Asian Terrorism Portal, so far Manipur is topping the list amongst NE States with approximately 153 terrorist related casualties. The casualty figure last year was 348 while in 2007 it was 408. What is intriguing is that with 25 or more such UG outfits in the State, will this deadly blow to PREPAK by the Army have any impact and change the tide in Manipur ?

Despite the neutralisation of militants, year by year, by the state police and Security Forces, the number of militants outfits continue to mushroom and outgrow like cancer. There seems to be no sight of normalcy in the militant infested State.

Due to the militancy, the State has been divested the much needed investment and infrastructural development to counter the ever growing unemployment in the State. Paradoxically, the ever growing educated unemployed youths are becoming ready recruits for these militant outfits.

Apparently, it has become a more viable, easy and lucrative job vis - a - vis govt jobs which are only accessible to those who can dole out high money to corrupt politicians and executives.

Contrary to belief, the author has learnt that there are too many vested interests at play who would like to prolong the span of militancy at the cost of the public suffering , as this 'business' apparently is thriving and flourishing for self aggrandisement.

The reflection on the mirror is crystal clear. No amount of Security Forces will change the tide in Manipur, unless the people weed out the corrupt political system and the State Govt make an earnest and honest effort to bring about peace, development and employment for the ever increasing educated youths of Manipur.

It calls for a united effort both on the part of the people and the State Govt to fight militancy and bring about the much needed peace, development and employment opportunities for the youths